I am a qualified teacher and play therapist providing therapy to children and creative therapy to adolescents, one on one and in groups.  Childhood is a journey in which there can be bumps in the road. Sometimes children experience difficulties and behave in ways that can cause concern to those around them. Play therapy provides children with a safe environment in which to ‘play out’ their thoughts and feelings. Play therapy is to children what talk therapy is to adults.
Play therapists are clinical practitioners who promote positive mental health and wellbeing. They are required to undertake extensive training, supervision and personal therapy. They use appropriate media and interventions to enable the child to communicate their inner worlds. The establishment of the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and child is central to their work.
Within this therapeutic relationship, children can resolve a range of developmental and/or emotional difficulties. Their resiliency and emotional intelligence can be enhanced. Play therapists often use play as a means of helping children to overcome specific issues associated with ADHD, ADS, sensory processing, speech and language and learning difficulties.
Children may be referred to a play therapist for a range of needs including:
Behavioural issues
Communication difficulties
Delayed development
Educational delays
Relationship difficulties
Parental separation/ divorce
Family disruptions

Trauma
Bereavement/ loss
Abuse/ neglect
Anxiety
Bullying

Hayley Rice
BSocSc, HDip Ed (Primary), PGDip Play Therapy (CTC), MHIP (In process).
Hayley is a qualified play therapist who works with both children and adolescents in the Wicklow area.  She is a pre-accredited member of the IAPTP. Hayley began her career as a teacher in 2006. She has taught in both secondary and primary schools. Hayley has a love for travel and different cultures and has taught in Ireland, Dubai and Africa. It was while working with children in Dubai that Hayley discovered play therapy and its power to help children work through difficult feelings in a safe and age-appropriate way. Hayley developed a passion for play therapy and returned to Ireland to study with the Children’s Therapy Centre (CTC).
Hayley has provided play and creative therapy to children and adolescents in the educational setting, helping children with anger, low-self-esteem, ASD, separation, social and emotional difficulties to mention a few. Hayley works both one-on-one and in small groups. Hayley is presently expanding her knowledge by studying for a Master of Psychotherapy with CTC.
Hayley currently operates in private practice, providing play therapy to government and private sectors in Wicklow Town and Arklow.
‘’Children have an innate ability to communicate through play which gives incredible insight into their worlds. I consider it a privilege to use play, the natural language of children, to support individuals and their families during difficult times. I use an integrative approach to therapy, tailoring my use of materials and theory to each individual. I acknowledge the commitment families make to the therapy process and work closely with parents in order to support them during their child’s therapeutic journey’’ Hayley Rice.