Therapy for Children in Sligo 

Healing Through Play

What is Play Therapy & how can it help?

Play Therapy is a recognised and highly effective way of helping children who might be struggling with big feelings, worries, or difficult behaviours.

It is specifically designed for children aged four to twelve years, a time in life when it can be hard to put feelings into words.

In Play Therapy, your child will meet one-to-one with a specially trained Play Therapist. The sessions take place in a playroom filled with carefully selected toys and creative materials. These are not just for fun—they are chosen to help children safely express feelings and experiences which might be difficult or overwhelming.

Children naturally communicate and make sense of their world through play. In Play Therapy, as your child plays, they are encouraged, with gentle support from the therapist, to show their worries, fears, anger, sadness, or whatever is troubling them.

By expressing and exploring their feelings in this way, children can begin to understand them better.

This process often helps to reduce the intensity of difficult feelings and, over time, can gently lead to positive changes in how your child feels, acts, and relates to others. Many parents find that behaviour which was previously a problem—such as anger, withdrawal, or anxiety—shifts as their child finds healthier ways to cope and express themselves.

Play Therapy is not about “fixing” your child, but about giving them the space, understanding, and tools they need to grow and thrive—no matter what challenges they are facing.

  • A colorful, abstract illustration of a smiling face with closed eyes, blushing cheeks, and a small curved mouth, made with overlapping textured circles in shades of orange, yellow, purple, and red.

    Emotional Regulation:

    Teaches coping strategies and emotional literacy to help children understand and manage their feelings more effectively

  • Cartoon illustration of a spiky, orange creature with an angry facial expression, large eyes with stars, yellow nose, open mouth showing sharp teeth, and arms raised in a confrontational pose, on a light beige background.

    Behavioural Issues:

    Addresses problem behaviours such as aggression, anger management issues, and difficulties in school settings.

  • Illustration of a sad, cartoonish purple diamond-shaped face with large eyes and a small mouth, inside a yellow container.

    Anxiety & low mood:

    Helps children articulate feelings of anxiety or sadness that they may struggle to express verbally.

  • Animated illustration of a broken blue heart with tearful, sad facial expressions.

    Loss and Grief:

    Helps children navigate feelings associated with loss or bereavement, offering them tools to cope with their emotions.

  • A cute, stylized cartoon character with a yellow face, large black and white eyes, pink cheeks, a red nose, and a small red smile. The character has a halo-like yellow circle around its head, and it is wearing an orange garment with a decorative collar.

    Social Skills Development:

    Enhances interpersonal skills by providing opportunities for children to practice relationships in a controlled setting.

  • Four cartoon characters with sad or angry expressions, including a square-faced person with blue hair, a red-maned person with yellow eyes, a person with curly blonde hair and a green shirt, and a person with long blonde hair and a purple shirt.

    Family Dynamics:

    Supports children dealing with family changes such as divorce, separation, or the death of a loved one.

  • An illustration of a sad face with closed eyes, blushing cheeks, a red nose, and blue shades, with dark clouds raining above.

    Trauma and Abuse:

    Assists children who have experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, helping them process their trauma in a safe environment.

  • Cute cartoon illustration of a sad creature with purple head, blue tear drops, big eyes, small nose, and yellow body wearing a yellow garment.

    Bullying:

    Provides a platform for children to express experiences related to bullying—both as victims and perpetrators—allowing them to explore these dynamics through role play.

Discover the transformative

power of play therapy.