No I don't,  I reflect what is happening, for example: 

'the gorilla is really angry with the elephant today' 

or

'you seem to be moving very quickly'

Reflection enables the children to acknowledge and understand what is happening or how they are feeling.  They may not realise this themselves but if I  reflect it, it may help them realise it is happening.

How Can You help Without Asking Questions ?

This is play therapy and as play is a child's natural way of communication, we don't need to talk. Feelings and concerns can be expressed through play, without words.  

As a child plays, patterns and feelings may emerge and that enables the child to process problems and develop positive coping strategies.

This is a natural parental question and usually it would be fine. However, I do request that parents or carers not ask this after children's sessions.  

There are a couple of reasons for this:

Sometimes sessions are difficult for the child - not all play is happy play.  

Children may be working through quite difficult issues and not want to respond to this question.  The parent may not think the issue is as important as the child does but as adults we have to acknowledge that what we think are trivial issues may be quite daunting for a child.

Toys from home may evoke certain memories or feelings whereas the toys provided in the therapy sessions are neutral. So if the play evolves and something bad happens to a neutral toy - that is okay.  

Sometimes toys get broken or damaged during play.  It is not the child's fault but if that happened to a 'favourite' toy, it may be more difficult for a child.

Mess is a positive sign that children are working through their issues.  It is important for the child to know that it is 'okay' to make a mess if they need to and the play therapist will deal with it.  

Children realise quite quickly that play therapy is not like home or school.  There are very few rules and the play therapist is not their parent or their teacher.  

They understand  that it is a time for them to challenge/ investigate/ explore their feelings and so they can make a mess and leave it for the play therapist to clean up.  

This is a natural parental question.

After a session, children do not need to thank me!  

The child is the one who has been doing all the hard work, I have been their witness, held their space and kept them safe, but they have done the work.

I accept the child/ren just as they are without judgement or expectation, the children do the same. So there is no need for any thanks.

Each child has a 'special box/folder' for their creations.  I keep these creations safe by until the end of the intervention. 

One of the reasons for this is it is important  for the child to have the chance to look at their creations throughout their intervention -  if they wish to do so.  

Another reason is, it is a way for the therapeutic relationship to develop as the children put trust in the play therapist to keep their creations safe.