What is occupational therapy?
Occupational therapy (OT) is focused on improving the functional abilities of the individual. For children this means helping them do what they need to and want to do every day like making friends, playing and learning.
Children may have difficulties with every day activities due to a variety of factors including, developmental difficulties, specific learning difficulties or disabilities, mental health or behavioural difficulties and sensory integration difficulties.
For adults, this can include work and college environments also.
What is sensory integration?
Sensory integration is the process all of our brains do all the time, integrating sensory information from the world around us and our bodies to make sense of things and function in our daily lives. There are 8 senses. Our 5 senses that tell us about the world outside us (touch, sound, smell, taste, vision) and our 3 internal senses that tell us about our internal state (vestibular/ head movement and balance, proprioception/ body awareness and force, interoception/ internal state such as breathing and heart rate).
What is clinical psychology?
Clinical psychology is the profession dedicated to supporting people understand their own unique mental health. Clinical psychologists are registered professionals and have undertaken PhD level qualifications. They offer assessments where they formulate what may be going on with someone’s mental health, explaining any difficulties and making sense of the wider picture. They can offer ongoing therapy to support someone with issues around anxiety, depression and other mental health difficulties.
Why should we choose Active Play Therapies?
Because we truly want to offer the best possible service to you and your family. We pride ourselves in our expertise, skills and quality. We respect everyone’s individuality and have a neuroaffirmative approach in our work.
How do we get a referral to you?
We accept referrals from anyone via email. If we can help you, we will.
When is your next availability?
Please contact us for more details. Typically around a month for assessments.
How much do your services cost?
Please see our Prices page for details, or contact us for an individualised quote.
Where are you based?
We currently don’t have a physical base. We have spaces we use in Southbourne and Dorchester, and visit you at home and in schools. We work in the Dorset area, mainly around East Dorset, Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.
What age do you work with?
Anyone over the age of 2 years. In special circumstances, younger. However, we have no age cut off and we work with any age adults or children.
Can you work with my child’s school/ nursery?
Yes please! We love working with schools and nurseries. We are happy to get in touch and complete visits in schools.
Do you diagnose DCD/ dyspraxia?
For adults yes, for children no. This is because we have a specialist OT who has additional training in assessing adults for dyspraxia. For children, we signpost to local NHS services for this typically.
How does payment work?
We invoice you and payment terms are 15 days via BACS.
What does neuroaffirmative mean?
Neuroaffirmative is an approach that is grounded in acceptance of neurodiversity (such as autism, ADHD, DCD, dyslexia) as a normal variant of humans. Neuroaffirming approaches do not attempt to change the person, but instead look at the wider environment and systems around the person. This is not the same as being unrealistically positive, viewing everything as a ‘superpower’, but instead being realistic that the world is hard when you are neurodiverse. We celebrate strengths, and provide support to overcome challenges.
Do you diagnose autism or ADHD?
No we don’t. We work with individuals based on their needs regardless of diagnosis. We can do assessments for dyspraxia in adults.
Do you offer Play Therapy?
No – we use play as part of our therapy, but this is not the same as Play Therapy. You can find accredited play therapists here. Play therapy is a specific type of psychotherapy.
What are your company details?
Active Play Therapies Limited is incorporated in England and Wales under company registration number 15882223. Our registered address is Noland House, Noland Park, South Brent, England, TQ10 9DE, though please note this is not a clinical address to visit or send post to.