Brian Reeves

Playtherapy for Adults

Seriously, You Need More Fun!

A three-week course with Brian Reeves B.A. (Hons), PGCE, Dip RSA

It is wonderful to watch children wrapped up in their play. At the same time as having fun, they experiment with life’s fears and possibilities. For many adults, with our busy lives, play becomes less and less of a feature.

Of course we do play, but not usually in the creative and therapeutic way of children. We can never be children again, but being more knowledgeable and sophisticated does not render play redundant to us grown-ups.

This short course of four 2-hour sessions is designed to demonstrate how adults can use play in the same way as children: hopes & fears are mixed together in an imaginary world where the players set the rules.

Having more knowledge and awareness of the world does not need to get in the way, but because we’ve got out of the habit we need a starting point. A good one is to use an archetypal myth, story or legend to see what meaning this might still contain for us today. By playing again, we can make sense of our lives, past and present and future.

A typical session will consist of a warm-up playing games and using role-play; then a talk led by Brian as facilitator to agree the rules and boundaries of the session, and an introduction to a story or topic that will lead us into deeper investigation through play. The first session will look at the story of King Midas, and we might be surprised at the many reverberations, not all obvious, that this story has for us today. Of course, as stated, this is merely a starting point and it is up to the group, with Brian’s help, to go where they wish to go from there.

Dates:   New dates for this course: introductory session Thursday 19th June, followed by a course of three sessions on 26th June, 3rd July and 10th July.                                    They will all run between 7 and 9pm.

Cost:   The introductory session costs £15 and the course of three sessions costs £60.

Bookings:   To book or make an enquiry, please contact Brian on 07968 509 543.

Q: How might a playtherapy session help me?

A: The ways we deal with problems are by thinking, talking and then taking
action. However by exploring issues through drama we get a more rounded
view, and a group brings a variety of approaches.


Q: Why do we use myths and stories?

A: A story provides a beginning and a structure. Myths get repeated, re-told
and re-worked because they have a universal meaning.


Q: Will playtherapy sessions be looking deeply into my personal life?

A: No. A myth or story is a means to focus on feelings, issues & ideas. This
may have a deep resonance with an individual in the group, but nobody will
be asked to share any more than they wish to with others.