PLAY THERAPY
for schools in Northern Ireland
Therapeutic support for children
who may be struggling emotionally, socially or behaviourally
When a child is finding things difficult, it can often show up first in school, through changes in behaviour, anxiety, withdrawal, emotional outbursts, difficulty concentrating, friendship difficulties or reluctance to attend.
At WayMaker, we work alongside schools and other professionals to help children make sense of difficult experiences through Play Therapy.
Schools can refer individual children to our therapeutic clinic in Ballymena or talk to us about small-group Play Therapy programmes delivered within school.
Our aim is simple: to help children feel safer, more regulated and better able to engage with the world around them.
Why Play Therapy?
Children do not always have the words to explain what is happening inside.
Play Therapy provides a developmentally appropriate way for children to communicate, process experiences and explore difficult emotions through play and creativity.
Rather than focusing only on the behaviour adults can see, we look beneath it and ask:
What might this child be communicating and what support do they need?
Play Therapy may support children experiencing:
anxiety or emotional overwhelm
bereavement, loss or family change
trauma or difficult life experiences
low confidence or self-esteem
friendship and relationship difficulties
emotional regulation difficulties
changes in behaviour
school-related anxiety
separation difficulties
difficulties expressing feelings
Two Ways Schools Can Work With WayMaker
01 — Refer an Individual Child
Schools and professionals can refer individual children directly to WayMaker for Play Therapy.
Where possible, we prefer children to attend our dedicated therapeutic clinic in Ballymena, rather than receiving individual therapy within their school environment.
Our playrooms have been intentionally designed as therapeutic spaces, giving children somewhere separate from the demands, expectations and relationships of school.
It creates a clear distinction between learning space and therapeutic space and gives the child privacy and consistency for their therapeutic work.
We continue to work collaboratively with the important adults around the child, including parents, carers, schools and other professionals where appropriate.
02 — Small-Group Play Therapy in School
We can also bring Play Therapy into schools through carefully planned therapeutic groups.
These are designed for small groups of children of a similar developmental age who are experiencing similar presenting difficulties.
Through play, creativity and therapeutic activities, children have opportunities to build emotional and relational skills within a safe and supportive group.
Groups may focus on areas such as:
emotional regulation
confidence and self-esteem
friendships and relationships
anxiety and worries
managing change
social and emotional wellbeing
connection and belonging
Before a group begins, we will talk with your school about the children you are considering and whether the group is an appropriate therapeutic fit.
Supporting the Child Behind the Behaviour
Sometimes what appears in the classroom is only the visible part of what a child is experiencing. Behind behaviour there may be anxiety, sensory overwhelm, difficult experiences, developmental needs, relationship difficulties or a nervous system working hard to feel safe.
At WayMaker, we don't expect schools to have all the answers before making contact. You bring what you know about the child. We bring our therapeutic expertise. Together, we can help find a way forward.
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Play Therapy can help children develop the emotional foundations they need to feel safer, build relationships and engage more fully in school life.
Depending on the needs of the child or group, Play Therapy may support:
emotional regulation and managing big feelings
confidence and self-esteem
positive relationships and social skills
anxiety and emotional wellbeing
communication and expression
resilience and coping skills
readiness to engage and learn
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We believe it is important that therapeutic support is not only compassionate, but that progress can also be understood and evaluated.
Where appropriate, WayMaker uses the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to help measure areas including emotional difficulties, behaviour, hyperactivity and attention, peer relationships and prosocial strengths.
This can help us build a clearer picture of a child's needs and identify changes over the course of therapeutic support.
With the appropriate consent, relevant outcomes can be fed back to the school, alongside our professional observations and recommendations.
Where a school requires more detailed information, a clinical report can also be provided, bringing together the therapeutic work, outcome measures and recommendations to help inform the child's ongoing support.
Refer a Child or Talk to Our Team
Whether you are concerned about an individual child or would like to explore a small-group Play Therapy programme for your school, start by connecting with WayMaker.
Helping children feel safe enough to connect, grow and learn.
Helping children feel safer, more connected and ready to learn.