Playfulsolutions

Michael Payne

Child Centered

Playtherapy

About Child Centered Play Therapy

"Play therapy is the dynamic process between child and Play Therapist in which the child explores at his or her own pace and with his or her own agenda those issues, past and current, conscious and unconscious, that are affecting the child's life in the present. The child's inner resources are enabled by the therapeutic alliance to bring about growth and change. Play therapy is child-centred, in which play is the primary medium and speech is the secondary medium." (British Association of Play Therapists)

Children with a wide range of mental health and diagnoses and other difficulties may benefit from play therapy by:

facilitating healing from past stressful or traumatic experience
allowing the expression of feelings
encouraging creative thoughts and new ideas
allowing the development of healthy decision making skills
enabling the communication of problems and concerns to others
supporting the learning of new ways of thinking

Play therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach developed to help children between the ages of three to 12 years old.

If you wish to discuss any issues with me please feel free to make contact.

About Me

I am English by birth and married with 4 adult children. As a family we moved to New Zealand in 1985 where we were mainly based in North Canterbury for 10 years, moving to Gisborne in 1995.

My base training is as a Registered Mental Health Nurse with Post Grad Certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. I have also received a Post Grad Diploma in Alcohol Counselling, Post Grad Certificate in Child Centered Play Therapy (childplayworks Ltd) and Certificate in Child Centered Play Therapy.

I have been working in the health field since 1980 – starting in England, and moving to New Zealand, and now working in private practice as a therapist working with children, adolescents and adults.

My work experience includes working with addiction, ADHD, Autism, behavioural problems, anxiety and grief, plus many other issues that face children and families today.

I completed my Post Graduate training in Child Centered Play Therapy (childplayworks Ltd) in 2016 believing it to be the best form of intervention for children with emotional and behavioural issues, and one of the most respectful and successful forms of treatment I have found so far.

In 2017 I completed the Certificate in Child Centered Play Therapy through the National Institute of Relationship Enhancement (NIRE), based in the USA. Information regarding this organisation is available on line http://www.nire.org/

In 2022 I completed the Certificate in Child Centered Play Therapy - Supervision through NIRE

Other forms of intervention I am trained in and reflect the way I like to work are ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and IDT (Interactive Drawing Therapy). Currently I am training in Filial Therapy where I train parents/caregivers to become play therapist to their child.

I am a Registered Member of NZAC and registered with the New Zealand Nursing Council