Top Play Therapy Services in Singapore

What is play therapy?

Play therapy is a type of therapy that utilises play to uncover and deal with an individual’s psychological issues. The main outcomes are to help people manage conflicts, deal with anxiety, cope with stressful situations and improve their overall thought process and behaviours. 

Play therapy is primarily targeted at children. This is mainly because children are unable to effectively communicate their emotions and problems to parents or other adult caregivers.

While play therapy is usually to help children, it can also be used to help adolescents as well as adults.

When is play therapy used in children?

Play therapy is usually to help children cope with social and emotional challenges. It also helps to improve communication, problem-solving and processing skills in the child, allowing them to interact with others in a more positive and healthier way. 

For children who have experienced a traumatic event in their lives, they may significantly benefit from play therapy. Some common situations may include death of a loved one, domestic violence, neglect, or a chronic illness.

When is play therapy used in adults?

Play therapy is not just for children. Anyone can benefit from play therapy – from adolescents, adults, and even the elderly. Adults who may benefit from play therapy are those who may have been affected by various illnesses and conditions, including but not limited to, dementia, anger management issues, and post-traumatic stress disorder. For adults, play therapy is often used to complement other types of therapy or medication.

Where can I engage a play therapist in Singapore?

Whether you need a play therapist for yourself, your child or a friend, there are several established and experienced play therapists in Singapore. Here are some of the top 20 play therapy services in Singapore that boost years of professional experience.

Play Therapy Service	Healing Hearts Centre
Speciality	Team of experienced counselors with more than 15 years in working with individuals, children, adolescents, couples and families
Pricing	Clinical Supervision/Play Therapy Supervision – Individual – 60 Mins: $120 Clinical Supervision/Play Therapy Supervision – Group (up to 4 pax) – 60 Mins: $200 Clinical Supervision/Play Therapy Supervision – Group (more than 4 pax) – 60 Mins: $50/pax View fees here
Website	https://www.healingheartsctr.com/
Address	265b Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427519
Contact	info@healingheartsctr.com
Operating Hours	By appointment only

 

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Play Therapy Service	Academy of Human Development
Speciality	Offers Gestalt Play Therapy – a dynamic, present-centered, humanistic, process-oriented mode of therapy  Offers  years of counselling experiences and extensive network
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	https://www.ahd.com.sg
Address	43 Middle Road, #03-00 Boon Sing Building Singapore 188952
Contact	6425-2422 admin@ahd.com.sg
Operating Hours	9:00am – 6:00pm (Mondays – Fridays) Closed on Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays

 

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Play Therapy Service	Tree of Life Play Therapy Singapore
Speciality	Marie Gould – Certified Play Therapist possess deep expertise with ability to strengthen the link between peoples challenges and the outcomes they seek Deep passion for working with children in a collaborative, transparent and inclusive manner, to build secure, positive relationships with her clients.  Services: Play Therapy can benefit children who have various challenges with social, emotional or behavioural issue at home or in the class room. It is based on building a meaningful and trusting relationship between the child and the therapist. It gives children access to a safe space and a developmentally appropriate outlet, to    -release frustration and express emotions   -develop independence and creative thinking   -make meaningful connections   -improve social skills.
Pricing	$150 per session
Website	https://www.treeoflifept.com/our-practice
Address	87 Science Park Drive, The Oasis #03-01, Singapore 118260
Contact	marie@treeoflifept.com +6592414321
Operating Hours	Monday : 9am–6pm Tuesday : 9am–6pm Wednesday : 9am–6pm Thursday : 9am–6pm Friday : 8am–5pm Saturday upon request

 

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Play Therapy Service	Association for Play Therapy
Speciality	Formed by a group of like-minded professionals dedicated to the mission of advancing the standards and ethical practice of Play Therapy in Singapore Greatly value the therapeutic powers of play and its impact on an individual’s psychological, emotional and social well being
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	https://www.apts.org.sg/
Address	265 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427519
Contact	View contact details here

 

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Play Therapy Service	Creative Play Lab
Speciality	Individualized and tailored made programme, work one to one therapeutically, to help students with learning difficulties to learn with joy and appreciate learning in a fun and interesting manner. Offers play therapy for toddlers up to adults
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	http://creativeplaytherapy.sg/
Address	231 Mountbatten Road, Block A, #03-04, Singapore 397999
Contact	97408180 marinalim@creativeplaytherapy.sg
Operating Hours	By appointment only

 

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Play Therapy Service	Good Pathways
Speciality	Elaine has 20 years of experience working with children and families Offers Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) which has been evidenced to work well for children and adults with anxiety, depression, and trauma induced difficulties Sandplay Therapy and offers personal growth and deep insight- oriented therapy for adults and children
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	https://goodpathways.com.sg/about-us/
Contact	Contact here
Operating Hours	By appointment only

 

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Play Therapy Service	HeadStart for Life
Speciality	Play practitioners are trained in therapeutic play procedures to facilitate the development of a safe relationship for the child to express and explore self Their  Therapeutic Play practitioners create a safe, confidential and caring environment, which allows the child to play with as few limits as possible in a safe manner.
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	https://www.headstartforlife.com.sg/services-play
Address	46 East Coast Road, #09-03 Eastgate (Katong), Singapore 428766
Contact	admin@headstartforlife.com.sg 65 6893 3171
Operating Hours	Mondays to Saturdays From 9 am to 6 pm

 

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Play Therapy Service	Colourfully
Speciality	A private practice specialised in Trauma Healing and Art Psychotherapy Support adults and adolescents with a range of psychotherapeutic modalities, including traditional counselling and talk therapy as well as Art Psychotherapy, EMDR Therapy and Somatic Experiencing.
Pricing	Fees for 60-min individual sessions range from $150 to $200
Website	https://www.colourfully.sg/
Address	78B Pagoda Street, Chinatown MRT (exit A)
Contact	hello@colourfully.sg
Operating Hours	By appointment only

 

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Play Therapy Service	Treetop Therapy Centre
Speciality	Team of professional speech and language therapist Offers play therapy for both children and adults
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	https://treetop.com.sg/play-therapy/
Address	#03-01, The Oasis, 87, Science Park Drive, Singapore 118260
Contact	65 6779 7600 enquiries@treetop.com.sg
Operating Hours	By appointment only

 

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Play Therapy Service	Melrose Care, Children’s Aid Society
Speciality	Strives to play a bigger role in preventive work for vulnerable children, youths and underserved families A regional counselling centre with specialised therapies such as Art Therapy & Play Therapy as well as psychological assessment & treatment for children, youth and families in need in the community Multidisciplinary team of qualified mental health care and social care professionals specialise in working with children, youth, and families
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	https://childrensaidsociety.org.sg/cas/melrose-care/
Address	Blk 557, #01-63, Woodlands Drive 53, Singapore 730557
Contact	65 6970-0971 melrosecare@childrensaidsociety.org.sg
Operating Hours	Mon-Fri: 9am to 6pm

 

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Play Therapy Service	Positive Play
Speciality	Offers 1 to 1 positive play sessions for children from 4 to 12 years old who has difficulties coping with their daily challenges at home or in school Offers 1-1 family coaching for parents with children from 18 months to 16 years old with mild emotional or behavioral problems​ *online coaching option available
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	https://www.positiveplaysg.com/
Address	Aljunied, 380060
Contact	pboxplaytherapy@gmail.com +6590233116
Operating Hours	Saturday 10am–5pm Sunday 10am–5pm Monday 10am–7pm Tuesday 10am–7pm Wednesday Closed Thursday 4–9pm Friday 4–9pm

 

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Play Therapy Service	Morning Star Community Services
Speciality	Registered charity and Institution of Public Character (IPC) which aims to enrich and strengthen family relationships in Singapore. Counsellers with extensive experience in play therapy
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	https://www.morningstar.org.sg/our-counsellors/
Address	25 Lorong 33 Geylang, #04-01 Pu Tian Building, Singapore 387985
Contact	View contact details here
Operating Hours	By appointment only

 

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Play Therapy Service	Kaleidoscope
Speciality	A large, busy practice that has been helping children and families in Singapore since 1999 Strives to be client-centred, family-focused, and strengths-based in its approach Offer a wide range of services under one roof and our team members collaborate in order to provide a fully comprehensive, holistic service
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	https://www.kaleidoscope.com.sg/
Address	#07-05/06, The Grandstand, 200 Turf Club Road, 287994
Contact	info@kaleidoscope.com.sg
Operating Hours	By appointment only

 

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Play Therapy Service	Rainbow Kids Play Therapy
Speciality	Led by multilingul certified play therapist – Jeanie So Work closely woth parents and agencies to support children
Pricing	View rates here
Website	https://rainbowkidspt.com/
Address	Home-based play therapy
Contact	rainbowkidspt@gmail.com
Operating Hours	By appointment only

 

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Play Therapy Service	Kids Therapy Singapore
Speciality	A division of Olive Branch Counselling Services that provide Counseling and Psychotherapy for children between 4-12 years using play to help them express their inner feelings and to prevent or resolve psychosocial challenges Offers Certified Registered Professionals!
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	http://kidstherapy.sg/
Address	02-32 Mountbatten Square, 229 Mountbatten Road, Singapore 398007
Contact	(65) 8435 8594 sam@olivebranch.com.sg
Operating Hours	By appointment only

 

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Play Therapy Service	MindChamps Allied Care
Speciality	indChamps Allied Care’s therapists are highly qualified to work with children with unique learning needs and development. Early Intervention Programme (EIP Programme) aims to equip children aged 18 months old to 6 years old
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	https://mindchamps-alliedcare.com/
Address	136 Tembeling Road, Singapore 423645 6 Raffles Boulevard, #04-100 Marina Square, Singapore 039594 7 Lichfield Road, Serangoon Garden Estate
Contact	Varies depending on location
Operating Hours	By appointment only

 

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Play Therapy Service	Club Rainbow Singapore
Speciality	Provides various therapy services to meet the needs of their beneficiaries Offers physiotherapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy as well as as play and art therapy
Pricing	Contact for rates
Website	https://www.clubrainbow.org/therapy-services
Address	Blk 538 Upper Cross Street, #05-263/269, Singapore 050538
Contact	6377 1789 contact@clubrainbow.org
Operating Hours	Mondays to Fridays – 9am to 5pm

What are the various types of play therapy?

There are three main types of play therapy: child-centered play therapy, child and family play therapy, and group-based play therapy.

Below is a brief overview of how each type of play therapy works:

Child-centered play therapy

Child-centered play therapy is the most common type of play therapy used. For this type of play therapy, only the child and therapist are alone in the playroom. Such individualised environment allow the child to feel safe and comfortable to express themselves.

This type of play therapy is often used when there is suspected child abuse or for children with obsessive  compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention defict hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Child and family therapy

For child and family play therapy, it often includes a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. During the child and family play therapy session, the therapist does not get directly involved in the interaction. Rather, the therapist will sit back and observe the interaction between the child and the family member. 

Just before the session ends, the therapist will then share his or her observations and highlight areas of strengths and improvements to the family member. During this discussion, the child and any family member present will be dismissed from the room.

This type of play therapy is highly beneficial for parents to learn how to have a better relationship with their child.

Group-based play therapy

The third type of play therapy is group-based play therapy. During the play therapy session, a group of children will play together while the therapist observes their interactions. 

At times, the therapist may get involved and “play” with the children. However, most of the time, he or she will be on the sidelines observing and making notes. Their main goal is to observe how the children interact with each other. 

Group-based play therapy helps to build self-confidence and social and communication skills in the child. This type of play therapy is often used when the child is uncomfortable working with a therapist alone.

What are the types of techniques used during play therapy?

The approach and techniques used during play therapy differs from therapist to therapist. However, most techniques would broadly fall into two categories: directive and nondirective approach.

Non-directive approach

During non-directive play therapy, the therapist allows the child to take the lead. This means that the therapist is flexible and “plays” in whichever way the child prefers. This creates a comfortable, safe and natural environment for the child, allowing them to reveal whatever that may be troubling them in a natural setting. This approach typically does not have any parameters or directions set during the play therapy session.

Directive approach

During directive play therapy, the therapist structures the session with specific goals and interventions in mind. The therapist may select specific toys or activities prior to the play therapy session in order to purposefully initiate the child to discuss the problems that may be bothering them.

How often and long should play therapy sessions be?

In order for play therapy sessions to be effective, each session typically lasts between 30 minutes to an hour. The entire duration of the play therapy process should last 20 sessions at the bare minimum. However, the number of sessions ultimately depends on the child and his or her situation.

How does play therapy work?

During the first session, the therapist will have a short interview with either one or both parents to gather information on existing issues and family relationships. Depending on the age and maturity of the child, the therapist may also schedule a separate session with just the child. This helps the therapist to better understand their problems and assess the best techniques and methods to benefit the child. 

At the start of each play session, the child will be given the flexibility to play freely. After a while, the therapist will gradually introduce certain items or activities that are related to the issues that the child is grappling with. From there, the therapist starts to develop their treatment plan based on the child’s responses. The therapist may sit and “play” with the child while asking them questions in relation to the toys or activities in order to glean more information on the root cause of the child’s issues. 

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