child-centred play therapy
What is Child-Centred Play Therapy?
Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) is an attachment-based, developmentally responsive form of child counselling. It is delivered one-one-one between the therapist and the child. It utilises attachment principles and the medium of play to address the child’s struggles, without needing them to talk about it.
This approach is a developmentally appropriate and effective way to help kids process and work through challenging feelings, needs, and experiences, and learn healthier ways of being that translate into long-term, positive changes in real life.
Who Is It For?
CCPT is an effective mental health intervention for kids aged 4 to 10, who struggle with…
- Angry oubursts, fights
- Frequent meltdowns (e.g. screaming, fighting, sobbing)
- High anxiety (e.g. strong need for control, bedwetting, separation anxiety, neediness)
- Family stressors (loss of parent, divorce, siblings)
- Past traumatic experience (accidents, loss, neglect, etc.)
Outcomes of CCPT
CCPT effectively reduces symptoms of anger, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, and strengthens self-esteem and relationships:
- Improved relationships with parents, teachers, peers
- Strengthened self-esteem
- Fewer fights
- Better attention in class
- Fewer meltdowns (‘tantrums’)
- Improved self-regulation
- Higher self-confidence
- Reduced anxious behaviours
How It Works
- Taps on kids’ natural language – play
- Based on neurobiology – builds secure attachment that they need for growth
- Kids get to make choices – developing self-efficacy and self-regulation
- Kids have higher neuroplasticity before they grow into adolescents and adults!
Adeline Chang
I’ve worked with children for nearly a decade. supporting their growth and development – across special education, music education, preschool teaching, forest school coaching, and counselling. I’m dedicated to helping children overcome their anger, anxiety, and past trauma, so that families can heal.
Each child has their unique strengths, temperaments, neurotypes – and they universally blossom when met with deep understanding and well-established safety (which includes rules!). Understanding child development and the neurodiversity paradigm gives us clear paths forward, and can soothe much of the anxiety that parents face as their kids grow.
Though I work one-on-one with kids when doing CCPT, parents and familiies are always part of the process – in working together, we enhance children’s progress and create more sustainable, long-term shifts. In Filial Therapy, this impact is supercharged as I work directly with parents and empower them to become the agents of therapeutic change for their children.
With the support of evidence-based child therapy, stressed and worried parents can finally come out of firefighting mode, feel empowered to rebuild precious connections, and nurture the loving and joyful family they’ve always wanted.
Qualifications:
+ Master of Counselling
+ Postgrad Dip in Counselling Psychology
+ Bachelor of European Studies (Honours), Minor in Sociology
+ Certification in Child Centred Play Therapy (Child Centred Australia)
+ Certification in AutPlay Therapy (ongoing)
+ Certification in Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (ongoing)
+ Certification in Satir Transformational Systemic Therapy Level 1 (ongoing)
+ Certification in Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFTi)
Registration:
+ Provisional Clinical Member (Singapore Association for Counselling)
+ Provisional Member (Association for Play Therapy Singapore)
+ Register of Play Therapists (Child Centred Australia)
I sought support because my son struggled to manage and express his emotions, and was very temperamental with meltdowns. At school, he often clashed with teachers and friends. It was a very stressful time for us. After he went through weekly play therapy, I saw improvements emotionally and mentally; he can now express his emotions more freely and self-regulates better. He no longer has meltdowns! My son really enjoyed the weekly play therapy and at first refused to stop the sessions when things were better. I also found my monthly call with Adeline very helpful, where she checked in with me and updated me on my child’s progress. Adeline is very approachable, gentle yet firm, and friendly. I would recommend her to any parent looking for child counselling or play therapy!
- Are you tired of constantly clashing with your child?
- Feeling overwhelmed because they always seem angry, anxious, or sad?
- Lying awake at night, worried about their response to a recent trauma in the family?
Your child can overcome their challenges without being forced, coerced, or feeling like they’re the problem. We pave the way to change from the inside-out, by speaking their language.
Free 20 min consult
Share your story and I'll tell you how CCPT can address your child's specific challenges.
Adeline Chang
Counsellor & Play Therapist
EFT Practitioner (EFTi)
Forest Walker, Sea Swimmer
About Me
I’ve been dedicated to children for nearly a decade, working as teacher (special education/piano/preschool), coach and facilitator (forest school), and counsellor. In my free time, I like reading books, taking walks in nature, geeking out on languages and movies, and baking bread.
Join me as I support you and your child, so they feel more resilient, confident, and heal from the inside out. Everything gets better from there.