JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 131

MY F
JE
O AT
B IU
NREEDH
UCAT
EADIO
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Helen's
tips on
becoming
a play
therapist
Take a course
It will give you a
good insight into
your suitability
for the job.
Be realistic
Don't be misled by
the term "play".
People think it's an
easy job, but read
up, talk to other
therapists and get a
good understanding
of what the job
really involves.

WORDS KATE YELLAND IMAGES GETTY IMAGES

My job is
to support
a child's
emotional
wellbeing
practice hours required and the
completion of both a work and
personal journal alongside my
everyday job! There were a fair
amount of tears and frustration
trying to strike a work/study/life
balance so I could achieve both
my certificate and diploma in play
therapy. It took me three years.
No sooner had I got the first
residential weekend under my
belt than I saw my first pupil - a
selective mute. I immediately saw
how powerful the therapy was,
and it hit me that you don't need
words to communicate at all.
I fought hard to get a therapy
room of my own - I was offered a
cupboard at first! I raided charity
shops, used Freecycle, begged,
stole and borrowed to kit it out,
but now I have every medium
available, from paint and puppets
to Play Doh and shaving foam!
Every day is so different - I
never know what I'll face. I deal
with such a range of emotive
issues, from children's anger,
family change, loss, anxiety and
behaviour issues. I love being able
to give children my undivided

Have respect
Special needs
students can prove
challenging. But it's
amazing what they
can achieve if given
the right person to
talk to. I respect our
students massively.
Be resilient
You need to be
able to work with
children's concerns
without personally
being diminished.
You need empathy
and wisdom - it
helps if you've
lived a little!

attention. In our hectic lives
that rarely happens, but it's so
important. They feel special and
listened to. Slowly you build up a
relationship and begin to have an
impact on their emotional health.
That's what makes the job so
worthwhile. But it can be highly
frustrating - a child is affected by
their whole family situation and I
can't change that, however much
I might like to. I also find it hard

when teachers only hear the word
"play" and overlook the "therapy"
- my job is to support a child's
emotional wellbeing so we can
begin to break down the barriers
that are stopping them learn and
help them fulfil their potential.
I'm not done yet, though! I
would love to train as a family
therapist. That would allow me
to have an even greater impact
on the family as a whole.
J O B S & C A R E E R S /// 1 3 1



Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018

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https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/JobsandCareersAutumn2017
https://europe.nxtbook.com/emp/Careers/YourBusinessWithJamesCaan2017
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