I am a qualified play therapist having received a Diploma in Non-Directive Play Therapy and I hold a Masters in Therapeutic Child Care.

LG was referred to me by her social worker, after her foster carer had reported that LG had displayed some worrying and confusing behaviours.

In September 2007 LG and her younger sister were accommodated. They have remained in foster care since then and have lived with the same foster carers.

The referral informed me that LG had witnessed domestic violence between her parents and excessive use of alcohol. It was thought that she may also have witnessed adults using drugs. The referral described occasions when LG’s carer found her very upset and crying silently. At these times it would take her foster carer a long time to soothe LG.

LG has suffered from traumatic losses in her first five years. Consequently her sense of trust has been severely shaken, as was her sense of a secure base. I hypothesised that LG would not only have suffered from the experiences of loss, domestic violence, physical abuse and neglect, but from emotional neglect and broken attachments.

After meeting with LG at her foster carer’s house 5 months ago, weekly play therapy sessions began. Throughout this time I have reviewed the therapy regularly with LG’s foster carer and regularly discussed the therapy with LG’s social worker.

LG uses every session to its fullest extent. There have been occasions when she found it very difficult to leave the room after our allotted hour.

Trust is an important aspect of successful therapy and LG used the first sessions of therapy to develop a basic sense of trust in her surroundings and myself. If LG’s level of anxiety was heightened she would speak of her foster carer. On one or two occasions we finished the session early because LG wanted to see the carer. LG is now able to hold her carer in mind when she is with me each week without needing to physically check that she is waiting for her. This is a sign that she is more secure.

LG’s experience of basic care when she was removed from her mother will have been uncertain and haphazard. Her carers have provided a secure and containing base for LG. In my view, if a child has good carers, then whatever their past experiences they can make huge strides because they know they are safe. From a secure base the child can begin to explore the world.

During her early sessions, LG regressed and became a needy, sometimes angry baby. There were occasions during the early weeks when she displayed extreme anger, but the underlying theme seemed to me to remain one of “whatever I do, I cannot get it right.” Slowly her anger has subsided, until now she recognises a cushion as “my angry cushion.” Her carer tells me she is less angry at home too.

LG knows that she will not be returning to her mother’s care and at first I thought this knowledge had freed her up and allowed her to move on. Unfortunately she saw her father and was re-traumatised; her progress stopped and she regressed once again to a place where she was very needy and vulnerable.

New themes emerged that almost seemed to imply that life was rubbish and that everything LG tried failed.

Two weeks ago before she went on a holiday with her foster carers, LG spent most of the session caring for me, fussing over me, preparing me meals. I felt that LG was moving into a new developmental stage, but she is still struggling.

To summarise, I have worrying observed themes of vulnerability, disorganisation, fear, regression, anger. I have also observed more confident themes of nurturing, succeeding when she finally made a picture she was pleased with, and the beginnings of mastery play.

I think LG is making full use of her play therapy sessions and I will continue to see her on a weekly basis..