Frequently Asked Questions

The therapy process usually starts with an initial consultation with the parents. This 30-minute session allows you to meet the therapist, share important background information about your child and family, and to explore whether play therapy is the right fit for your child and your family at this stage. After this consultation, play therapy sessions for your child are scheduled. An initial block of 4–6 sessions is usually recommended. Once these sessions are completed, a feedback session is held with parents to discuss your child’s progress, share observations, and offer guidance on how to best support your child moving forward.

For teenagers, a parent consultation may not always be necessary. This will be discussed and agreed upon when the appointment is made.

Yes, of cause. Children at this age may seem very young, but this is exactly how non-directive therapy works best. Through play, the child naturally focuses on what they need to process and resolve at their own pace. The child does the real emotional work, while the therapist provides a safe, attuned, and guiding presence. This makes play therapy a highly effective and developmentally appropriate approach for younger children, even when they cannot yet express their feelings fully in words.

Prescribed medical aid tariffs apply.

This depends on the therapy package you choose. When you start play therapy with your child, you commit to a set number of sessions as part of a package, usually 5. Each package includes a free intake session with parents (or with older clients), as well as a feedback and guidance session where parents receive practical tips and support on how to apply the skills their child is learning at home. 

Sessions are billed monthly, and a detailed invoice is provided each month. Odette is registered with the Professions Council of South Africa (SACSSP) as a Social Worker, and counselling sessions may be claimable from your medical aid, depending on your plan and available benefits. Where applicable, invoices can be submitted to your medical aid for reimbursement. Prescribed medical aid tariffs apply. Play therapy and family counselling are generally claimed from medical aids under psychotherapy or mental health consultation benefits, subject to your individual medical aid rules and cover. Payments are made directly by the client.

Although play therapy follows a fairly predictable emotional process, it’s not possible to give an exact number of sessions because every child moves through the stages at their own pace. There is no quick fix—time is needed to build trust, work through difficult emotions, and develop new ways of coping and relating. Research and clinical experience show that meaningful, lasting change most often occurs over 22–30 sessions.

Ultimately, continuing therapy is always the parent’s decision, which is why we work in bundles of five sessions at a time. This allows parents to regularly review progress without feeling locked into a long-term commitment. While longer-term therapy is often recommended, even a few sessions can still be beneficial—some support is always better than no therapy at all.