How does it work and who is it for?
Zephyr’s Creative Play Therapy service is here to provide your child with 1-2-1 support following the loss of a sibling or a young family member. Led by Sharon, our Creative Play Therapist, these sessions run weekly at the same time, in the same place (our counselling room at Sherwood Community Centre). For younger children, we call this Play Therapy, but for older children using this service, please visit the Creative Therapy page here.
The consistency and frequency are an important part of the therapy process, as this develops the trusting relationship to allow a safe environment in which a child can show self-expression and have an opportunity to play out their emotions and problems securely. In this therapy, children can enter into a dynamic relationship with their therapist that enables them to express, explore and make sense of their difficult and painful feelings/experiences. Is Creative Play Therapy right for my child? Visit our guide here for further info.
Zephyr’s pilot service will offer 1 initial conversation with the wider family, followed by 8 x 1-2-1 sessions for your child. As the child’s parent(s)/carer(s) you will complete the referral form, and then meet with our therapist Sharon. Together you will talk through the context and background of your loss, your child’s interests, and anything you feel it’s important to know.
When and where?
The sessions will be booked in between Sharon and your family, and will run weekly for the duration. The sessions take place in Zephyr’s counselling room, located at Sherwood Community Centre, Nottingham, NG5 3FN.
What is helpful to know?
· It is helpful if you can support the idea of Creative Play Therapy because a child will be more responsive if significant adults in their life are supportive and consistent.
· Once sessions start, please resist the urge to ask how things have gone, so that a child does not feel under pressure to comment on something they may have difficulty in understanding themselves.
· Please do not check if a child has been good or bad in a session, as a child must feel free to express bad feelings in an uncensored way.
· If a child chooses to share something about a session, please show interest and listen to what they tell you. However, it is important that any comments you make are supportive and not judgmental.
· Please do not insist that a child tells the therapist certain things or check if certain things have been revealed. It is a child’s time in session and they alone must decide at what pace to reveal or discuss things.
· Sometimes we do get messy, we hope you will understand that being anxious about making a mess can be inhibiting. Please allow old clothes to be worn.
· It is important to warn you that, as with most therapeutic interventions, it is normal for behaviour to appear to get worse before it gets better. This is your child challenging their experiences and feelings that are troubling them, before they master them and move forward.
· Above all please remember that Zephyr’s Creative Play Therapy sessions are part of a confidential process, so please avoid probing into what a child has been doing or playing. Feedback will be given, especially if anything raises a concern.
· Emotional upheaval can be evident as sometimes emotional and difficult feelings are explored, especially in the beginning. Please share anything if problems arise that you are uncertain how to handle.
· If something significant happens between appointments that you think you need to share, contact our therapist Sharon or Carly at Zephyr’s.
How we can support you as a parent
Please know that we are here to support all members of the family who are bereaved and may need to connect to others or seek help through Zephyr’s. If your child has started Play Therapy and you feel that you yourself may benefit from some support, here are some of the options available to you.
You can contact us on 07915 995532, or reach out at contact@zephyrsnottingham.org.uk. If you would like to keep up to date with our support offerings via email, please let Carly know at the above address.
We have a newsletter about Zephyr’s activity, fundraising appeals and other general info that you can sign up here – https://www.zephyrsnottingham.org.uk/news-2/
We have compiled a list of various organisations who also provide support for bereaved parents. This resource can be accessed here – https://www.zephyrsnottingham.org.uk/support/other-organisations/
You can also follow Zephyr’s on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at the links below to keep up to date with us and join our community.