Child and Family Therapy
Healing through play
MELANIE
GILBERT-DE RIOS
Bsc(Hons)SW, CPW PG
Child Centred Play Therapy,Certified Filial Family Therapist(NIRE)
Reg.SW, MANZASW
About Melanie
Melanie is passionate about supporting children and their families. She specialises in using Child Centered Play Therapy, and Filial Family Therapy
"I consider Child Centered Play Therapy and Filial Family Therapy to be most effective in treating children’s emotional and behavioral difficulties."
Play Therapy offers children a safe space to express their thoughts, feelings and behavior's at their own pace and developmental level for optimal healing, growth, and development.
She has over 25 years' experience working with children and families in the social services and health sectors.
Alongside her private practice Melanie is a child and family therapist in the health sector and is also trained in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Theraplay and Systemic Family Therapy.
Hailing from the UK originally, Melanie enjoys living in the Bay of Plenty, which has been home for the last 21 years where she lives with her husband, and their dog Daisy. Melanie has two young adult daughters.
​Melanie holds a BSc (hons) degree in Social Sciences /Social work , a CPW Post graduate certificate in Child Centred Play Therapy and is a certified Filial Family Therapist (National institute of Relationship Enhancement /USA).She is an approved therapist for ACC and Victim Support. Melanie is registered with the Social Work Board, a member of the Association of Social Workers and the Association for Play therapy.
Melanie provides professional supervision/consultation. A Group Filial Therapy programme can be provided for agencies where they have a group of parents/caregivers who would benefit ,alongside the shared peer learning and support.
What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is a specialised form of psychotherapy/counselling for children. It is a well-established and research validated based model which draws upon many psychological theories. Play Therapy can help children with a wide range of emotional and behavioural issues.
As adults, we talk through our problems, exploring our thoughts and feelings to find new ways of managing situations or coming to terms with things we cannot change. Play Therapy recognises that play is children’s natural mode of communication and learning.
In the process of growing up, children can at times experience difficulties coping. Play Therapy can offer children a safe non-intrusive method to assist them in making sense of their worlds and to recover from common distressing events as well as major traumas.
Play and Filial Family Therapy can help with;
- Behavior and social difficulties
- Separation and school anxiety
- Parental separation/Divorce
- Adoption and fostering
- Trauma
- Bereavement, family or their own illness or injury
- Additions to their family (siblings and blended families)
- Family conflict and violence
- Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and neglect
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Through Play Therapy children are better able to understand their experiences, emotions and
behaviours and find their own inner resources for optimal healing, growth and development .
Play therapy can be a supportive environment for children who are finding it difficult to communicate their problems and concerns. Children learn that their experiences and feelings are acceptable, and to communicate and relate better to others. It supports their learning of new ways of thinking and gaining abilities to better problem solve and self-regulate their emotions and behaviour.
They can discover their own inner resources for healing of past stressful and traumatic experiences leading to growth, self-efficiency and resilience. Parent/caregiver reviews can help improve family relationships by caregivers gaining a better understanding of their child’s experiences and needs.
Benefits
WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM
Play Therapy
Services
Parent/caregiver initial assessment
An initial meeting is held with the parents/caregivers to obtain a full assessment of the child’s history and family circumstances. An understanding of the child’s difficulties and parents’ concerns is obtained, and collaborative goals identified.
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Individual Play therapy sessions (45 minutes)
Play therapy sessions provide a confidential space where the child has the freedom to express his/herself within safe boundaries. Children can play through situations that have been causing them to feel sad, angry, anxious, or afraid. Through this process children gain a better understanding of their experiences, emotions and behaviours and find their own inner resources for optimal growth and development.
The child and therapist work together in a room where the child has access to toys for dramatic play, art supplies, dress up for role plays, and a sand tray.
“Toys are like the child’s words and play is the language” Dr Garry Landreth.
Research has shown that 15-20 sessions provide the best outcomes. However, in some cases short term therapy can be provided in 10-12 sessions.
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Working with parents/caregivers
Parents and caregivers are a crucial part of the child’s healing and therapeutic process. The therapist works with the family through regular review meetings where information is shared, and the goals of therapy are worked towards in partnership.
Filial Family Therapy / Strengthening Child and Parent relationship sessions
Filial Family Therapy (FFT) , represents an extension of the principles of Child Centered Play Therapy to the entire family unit. FFT is designed for instances where inclusion of their parent/parents would be advantageous. Essentially, parents are systematically trained to conduct therapeutic play sessions with their children and receive on-going supervision and support from the FFT-trained professional to reach four goals :
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- to reduce child symptoms
-to enhance the parent- child relationship
-to improve child competence and self-esteem
-to improve parenting skills
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This supports parents in learning new skills to help their children overcome their difficulties and develop more effective child management techniques to prevent future problems developing.
Supported by a wealth of research, FFT has been demonstrated to be a highly effective approach and demonstrated the attainment of goals across a wide variety of problems.
Supervision/Consultation
Effective professional supervision offered by an experienced Child Centered Play Therapist and Filial Family Therapist to support you in your role.Melanie provides a person centered approach to supervision sessions to maximise your selfcare and practice development .She holds both NZ and USA Child and Family specialist qualifications.
Fees
Initial consultation fee is $190 plus GST (allows 1-1.5hr). Session fees from $135 plus GST (Play Therapy) / $140 plus GST (Family Therapy).
Fees are discussed and agreed prior to the first session. Fees are due within 2 working days of session, and sessions not attended without 24 hours’ notice will incur a cancellation fee.
Testimonials
“A big thank you, my son has come a long way this year, and the understanding he has with his feelings. He can start being the little boy he was before losing his father.”
GET IN TOUCH
Play Therapy Tauranga offers a confidential and supportive service to families.
Contact me to discuss your child’s needs and whether Play Therapy may be beneficial to them.
P 021 036 4644
E melanie@playtherapytauranga.co.nz
WE ARE LOCATED AT:
9 Brookfield Terrace,
Brookfield, Tauranga
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