For younger children, it can sometimes be difficult to express feelings, worries, or experiences through conversation alone. Children naturally make sense of their world through play, and often communicate their thoughts, emotions, relationships, and challenges more comfortably through play-based activities than direct questioning.

Play-based assessment and therapy is particularly helpful for preschool and primary school-aged children experiencing emotional, behavioural, developmental, social, or family-related difficulties. Using toys, games, drawing, creative activities, and child-led interaction, we can gain a deeper understanding of a child's experiences while helping them develop emotional awareness, coping skills, confidence, and resilience.

These sessions often include many of the same components as a comprehensive psychiatric assessment, including discussion with caregivers, developmental history, review of school and family functioning, and consideration of mental health or neurodevelopmental concerns. However, the assessment process is adapted to be developmentally appropriate, engaging, and accessible for younger children.

At Attuned Mental Health, we take a strengths-based approach, recognising each child's unique personality, interests, abilities, and relationships alongside any challenges they may be facing.