"Toys are children’s words and play is their language."

The Learn to Play Program, developed by Karen Stagnitti, is a structured intervention with a fundamental aim: to nurture and enhance the spontaneous pretend play ability of children increasing their capacity for both independent and collaborative play. As children develop their play abilities through the Learn to Play Program, they begin to generalise these skills not only in therapeutic settings but also at home, with friends, in their classroom, and within early childhood environments.

Learn to Play places a primary focus on pretend play, recognising it as the most intricate and advanced form of play. Pretend play serves as the gateway to numerous developmental milestones and skills, encompassing language development, particularly narrative language, social interaction, and the integration of emotional experiences. The specific play skills that we emphasise within the Learn to Play Program include:

• Spontaneously Self-Initiating Play: Encouraging children to initiate play activities independently.
• Sequencing Play Actions Logically: Developing the ability to organize and execute play actions in a logical sequence.
• Using Objects as Something Else (Object Substitution or Symbols in Play): Cultivating the creative use of objects in play, where one object represents another, fostering symbolic thinking.
• Engaging with a Doll or Teddy Character Outside of Themselves Promoting interaction with dolls or stuffed animals as distinct play companions, encouraging emotional connection and empathy.
• Integrating Play into a Clear Play Script: Helping children establish coherent and structured play narratives.
• Role Play and Social Interaction Using Play: Facilitating role-playing scenarios and fostering social interaction skills through play.

When engaging with a child in play as part of the Learn to Play Program, several guiding principles inform our approach:

• Start Simple: We initiate the therapeutic journey at the child's current play ability level, ensuring that the starting point is comfortable and achievable.
• True Play is Fun: Emotional engagement and enjoyment are at the core of Play Therapy. We understand that for therapy to be effective, it must be enjoyable for the child. When children have fun, their engagement in play becomes a transformative force.
• Comprehensive Awareness: Regardless of the specific play skill we are working on, we always keep a vigilant eye on the play script, the number of actions in a play sequence, the use of symbols in play, and the involvement of dolls or teddies. These aspects must align with the child's comprehension and play level.
• Challenge and Growth: We progressively challenge the child when we sense they are ready. This may involve introducing higher-level skills, new elements, or novel problems within the play script.
• Transitioning to Child-Led Play: Our goal is for the child to take the reins of play, becoming the initiator and driver of the play session.
• Responsive Interaction: We consistently respond to the child's cues and needs, adapting our approach to best support their growth.
• Coherent Play: Throughout the therapy journey, we ensure that the child's play remains logical and sequential. If coherence is lost, we guide the child back to an earlier level of play, ensuring a firm foundation for their continued development.

Incorporating these principles and the overarching approach of Learn to Play, our Learn to Play Program aims to not only enrich your child's play experiences but also empower them with valuable social and academic skills. These life skills, rooted in imaginative and symbolic play, encompass creativity, problem-solving, empathy, structured narrative thinking, and social interaction abilities. By nurturing these skills, we pave the way for your child to navigate the complexities of life with confidence, resilience, and a strong foundation for personal growth and development.

Humanistic Play Therapy is a profoundly empathetic, child-led approach dedicated to facilitating a child's emotional healing while nurturing their personal growth. Grounded in humanistic psychology, this therapeutic modality harnesses the therapeutic powers of play prescriptively to support your child's journey towards emotional well-being and self-fulfillment.

During Humanistic Play Therapy sessions, the trained Play Therapist provides a sanctuary of acceptance, empathy, and genuine connection, where your child can embark on their personal path to healing and growth. Humanistic Play Therapy holds a fundamental belief that each child is unique and inherently knows what they need to heal. We understand that every child's journey is distinct, and we honor their wisdom in guiding their therapeutic process.

In the realm of humanistic play therapy, we cultivate three core conditions essential for therapeutic growth:

• We genuinely step into your child's world, striving to understand their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without judgment. Our empathy creates a space where your child feels heard and valued.
• We hold an unwavering belief in your child's inherent worth and potential for growth. Through unconditional positive regard, we convey profound acceptance, fostering a sense of self-worth and self-acceptance in your child.
• We approach each therapeutic session authentically, allowing your child to connect with us on a genuine level. By being true to ourselves and our interactions, we model authentic relationships and emotional expression, inspiring your child to do the same.

Humanistic play therapy is a child-led journey guided by the use of play to assist in the child's healing and growth. This approach recognises that children, like adults, face complex emotional challenges that require thoughtful support and intervention.

In our therapeutic setting, play materials and toys become powerful tools for emotional expression and healing. These play materials serve as a medium through which your child can navigate their inner world, process emotions, and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Play, in this context, is purposeful and directed toward specific therapeutic goals, all led by the child's instincts and needs and facilitated by the trained Play Therapist.

Through the therapeutic powers of play, your child gains a means to express and process their emotions in a way that feels entirely natural to them. The child decides the pace and the direction, and we, as the Play Therapist, provide the supportive framework and nurturing environment from which they grow.

By following your child's lead, and with our support, your child begins the journey of healing emotional wounds and developing effective coping strategies. This emotional resilience extends beyond therapy, helping them navigate life's challenges with grace and strength.

The authentic connections cultivated within humanistic play therapy serve as a blueprint for your child's relationships outside the therapeutic setting. Your child gains insight into what healthy, empathetic connections look like, enhancing their capacity to build meaningful relationships with peers, family members, and educators.

Ultimately, humanistic play therapy nurtures your child's personal development and self-actualisation, guided by their inner wisdom. By harnessing the therapeutic powers of play prescriptively and honoring each child's unique journey, we empower your child to become the best version of themselves, equipped with emotional intelligence, self-acceptance, and the capacity for authentic, meaningful relationships.

Filial Play Therapy is a unique approach that recognizes the vital role parents play in their child’s emotional development and healing process. Developed based on the pioneering work of Louise and Bernard Guerney, Filial Play Therapy empowers parents to become active participants in their child’s therapeutic journey.

At its core, Filial Play Therapy is founded on the belief that a strong parent-child connection is essential for a child’s emotional well-being. By engaging in supervised play sessions, parents gain insights into their child’s experiences, strengthening their bond. Louise and Bernard Guerney’s pioneering work paved the way for the development of Rise VanFleet’s enhanced approach which is offered as part of our Play Therapy services.

Rise VanFleet’s contribution to Filial Play Therapy lies in the enhancement of the traditional model, building upon the foundation laid by Louise and Bernard Guerney. VanFleet emphasises the critical role parents play in their child’s emotional development and wellbeing equipping parents with the knowledge and skills necessary to become active players in their child’s therapeutic journey.

In VanFleet’s approach, parents are guided by the Play Therapist to conduct structured play sessions with their child. These sessions provide a platform for children to express their feelings, thoughts, and concerns through play while being supported by their parents. The therapist coaches parents in understanding and responding empathetically to their child’s play, creating a secure and nurturing environment.

VanFleet’s model focuses on teaching parents essential therapeutic play skills, such as reflective listening, empathic responding, and appropriate limit-setting. Parents are also taught to identify themes in their child's play and understand the nuances behind these themes during play. Together, these skills empower parents to effectively support their child’s emotional development, promoting a strong parent-child relationship and emotional healing.

Benefits of Filial Play Therapy Enhanced by VanFleet’s Model

Filial Play Therapy, enhanced by Rise VanFleet’s model and based on the pioneering work of Louise Guerney, offers several advantages:

• Enhanced Parent-Child Relationship: Parents learn to connect with their child on a deeper emotional level, fostering trust and attachment.
• Emotional Expression: Children gain a safe and supportive environment to express their emotions leading to emotional healing.
• Empowerment: Parents become active participants in their child’s therapy, feeling more capable of addressing emotional challenges.
• Skill Development: Parents acquire valuable play therapy skills that extend beyond the therapeutic setting, benefiting family dynamics.
• Holistic Growth: Filial Play Therapy promotes not only emotional healing but also personal growth within the family unit.