child-centred play therapy
What is Child-Centred Play Therapy?
As children grow, they pass through key stages of development. It’s natural for them to undergo changes in their thinking, mood, and behaviour. At times, it can be tricky for parents to know if their child’s experience is part of typical develpment, or a sign of a deeper issue that should be addressed. Consulting with a clinician specialised in working with children can offer valuable support.
Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) is one of the oldest and most well-researched forms of child counselling. CCPT is attachment-based and, unlike talk therapy, allows the child to address and overcome their struggles using play – their natural language.
CCPT is especially helpful for younger children, and allows them to process challenging feelings, needs, and experiences, develop stronger self-esteem, and learn healthier ways of being that translate into long-term, positive changes in real life.
Who Is It For?: Common Focus Areas in CCPT
CCPT is an effective intervention for kids aged 4 to 10, who struggle with anger, anxiety, or trauma. This includes children who may be experiencing:
- Angry outbursts, fights
- Frequent meltdowns (e.g. screaming, fighting, sobbing)
- High anxiety (e.g. strong need for control, bedwetting, separation anxiety)
- Family stressors (loss of parent, divorce, siblings)
- Past traumatic experience (accidents, loss, neglect, etc.)
Outcomes of CCPT
After completing through a course of CCPT, children’s symptoms of anger, anxiety, and/or post-traumatic stress are greatly improved, and they have stronger self-esteem and better interpersonal relationships. Some specific behavioural and emotional improvements include:
- Better relationships with parents, teachers, and peers
- Better problem-solving capabilities
- Improved emotional and behavioural self-regulation
- Higher self-esteem and self-confidence
- Fewer fights
- Fewer meltdowns (‘tantrums’)
- Reduced anxious behaviours
What Happens During CCPT
CCPT takes place one-on-one between the therapist and the child.
🔹 First Few Sessions (Building Trust): The therapist holds a warm, accepting space in which children feel safe and in control. Children learn that they can lead the way, and that there is no pressure to talk about about their problems.
🔹 Middle Sessions (Exploring & Processing Emotions): As trust is built, children begin to express their struggles. They may play out their experiences, test limits, and experiment with new ways to handle their emotions. As children work through big feelings, parents sometimes notice a temporary regression in behaviors — this is an important part of the process and parents will be supported and resourced through this period.
🔹 Later Sessions (Resolving & Generalising): Children have developed new strategies for self-regulation and begin to internalise and use them in more areas of life. With this stabilised sense of emotional mastery, they demonstrate stronger problem-solving skills and self-esteem. Play themes often shift, and the need for therapy decreases.
What Makes CCPT Especially Effective
- Developmentally appropriate and responsive to unique needs
- 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 coerced or feeling like they’re the problem. We pave the way to inside-out change by speaking their natural language.
Free 20 min consult
Share your story and I'll tell you if CCPT can address your child's specific challenges.
Adeline Chang
Counsellor & Play Therapist
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, and geeking out on languages and movies.
Join me as I support you and your child, so they become more resilient, confident, and heal from the inside out.