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Children affected by family violence in Stanmore Bay will benefit from new calming sensory devices after The Change Place received a $1,570 grant from the New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) to support trauma recovery through play therapy.
The Change Place provides specialist family violence services across Rodney and the Hibiscus Coast. Based in Whangaparāoa, it has provided specialist family violence services for more than 30 years, including counselling, play therapy, child and adolescent psychotherapy, parenting support and advocacy.
The devices will give play therapists another tool to help children regulate their nervous systems, feel safe and engage in therapy at their own pace.
Clinical manager Suzanne Stewart said the effects of family violence can follow children long after the immediate crisis has passed.
“Children are the hidden victims of family violence that leaves far too many of them isolated and living in fear. Left unaddressed, this trauma can lead to intergenerational family violence behaviours repeating,” she said.
“Play is the main language of children, so we offer play therapy to help them feel safe enough to address whatever issues they’re trying to resolve within themselves.”
The Change Place said trauma can affect children’s behaviour, learning, relationships and emotional wellbeing, making it harder for tamariki to settle into the calm, focused state needed for therapeutic play.
The TouchPoint devices provide gentle alternating vibrations designed to reduce the body’s stress response and support nervous system regulation. International research has shown they can help reduce anxiety, impulsivity, and aggression, making it easier for children experiencing trauma-related symptoms to engage in therapy.
Play therapist Cleo Hollier said the devices would help children with significant trauma feel calm enough to engage in therapeutic play.
“Children who access our services due to having experienced family violence present with varying levels of trauma. For those with significant trauma they struggle to play in the play room due to having a heightened nervous system, which disrupts their ability to relax enough to access symbolic and projective therapeutic play.
“The touch points will allow the brain to shift from flight/fight mode to calm, meaning that children can move faster into therapeutic play they desperately need to heal from their experiences. We are so excited to start using these with our tamariki.”
NZCT general manager of grants, marketing and communications Ben Hodges said the grant would help children access the support they needed through play therapy.
“We’re pleased to help get these devices into the little hands that need them. NZCT can fund this community good thanks to the fundraising partnerships we share with local hospitality venues via their responsible gaming rooms.”
