Exploring Water Play Therapy: Understanding Children Through Water Play

About the Course

Water Play Therapy (W.P.T) was developed through extensive clinical practice with children, young people, and adults. The approach provides a safe, accessible, and non-threatening environment where individuals can express emotions, experiences, and personal narratives through symbolic and sensory-based play. Water can act as a powerful therapeutic medium, enabling clients to communicate feelings and experiences that may be difficult to express through words alone. The use of water allows for fluid, nonverbal expression and can help facilitate emotional release, particularly for individuals who may struggle with verbal communication or forming social connections. W.P.T can be especially helpful when the therapeutic process feels “stuck” or when clients find it difficult to access or express underlying emotions. The method has also been found to be particularly supportive in trauma work, as water-based play encourages sensory engagement and provides a gentle pathway for nonverbal communication. The Water Play Therapy model incorporates five stages, using the concept of the “Water World.” This therapeutic space is created around a water table or tank, where materials such as colour, small objects, lighting, and sensory elements are introduced. These elements allow clients to create movement and interaction between their inner emotional world and the external environment, supporting exploration, expression, and reflection within the therapeutic process. The training will explore a wide range of concepts and practical applications, including: • Water as a unique and universal expressive medium • The connection between water, mindfulness, and body awareness • The five stages of Water Play Therapy • The therapeutic importance of colour in water-based play • The role of both free play and directed play within the therapeutic process • How water-based play can help access subconscious memories and emotional material • Myths, symbols, and archetypes associated with water across different cultures • The therapeutic role of the practitioner within Water Play Therapy • Comparison and discussion of Water Play Therapy alongside other expressive therapeutic approaches By the end of this training, participants will: • Expand their therapeutic toolbox with an additional expressive therapy approach • Develop confidence in using Water Play Therapy within clinical or educational settings • Learn how to adapt the method for different populations and therapeutic contexts • Gain practical understanding of the five stages of Water Play Therapy through experiential learning • Understand the theoretical and neuropsychological foundations underpinning the method • Develop skills in facilitating and guiding Water Play Therapy sessions • Become familiar with the symbols, myths, and narratives that can emerge within the “Water World”