For both children and adults, it can be difficult to put complex feelings and thoughts into words. When children aged 4–10 are struggling, the answers are rarely found in long conversations; instead, they are found in play.
I use the SSAP (Story Stem Assessment Profile) method. It is a gentle, structured form of play-based observation that helps us understand your child’s inner world.
How does it work?
-Short stories: The child is presented with the beginnings of short stories using dolls and plastic animals.
-The child continues the story: I start the story, and the child plays out and completes it.
-A safe environment: The child is not directly questioned about their own family situation or problems.
What can we learn from the play?
Through the dolls, the child reveals their unconscious expectations regarding the adults in their life. The method offers unique insight into:
-How the child perceives their close relationships and caregivers.
-The strategies the child uses to cope with difficult emotions when life feels unsafe.
-Whether the child’s internal mental images are shaped by a sense of security or insecurity.
Why choose SSAP?
-Gentle for the child: The method is playful and places no undue pressure on the child, making it particularly suitable for complex family situations where the child might feel caught in the middle.
-Does not rely on words: The child does not need an extensive vocabulary to express themselves.
-The key to the right help: The results point the way to the best form of support, whether the child needs play therapy or you, as parents, need guidance.
Play is the child’s natural language. Through SSAP, we give your child a voice so that, together, we can create the right change.
The tool is research-based, recognized, and used worldwide.
