Play therapy
CARA provides play therapy for children who have been sexually abused. This service is usually offered to children who are at primary school, but may be appropriate for some older children too.
Our specialist children's practitioners provide child-led play therapy sessions on a weekly basis, usually for 6-20 weeks. Sessions give children the opportunity to process what has happened to them and make sense of the complicated and confusing emotions they may be experiencing. Our practitioners work from our purpose-designed therapeutic playroom in Colchester or from some of our outreach premises in other areas, using a range of techniques including sand tray, art and imaginative play.
Support for parents and carers
Our Practitioners can provide one-to-one sessions for parents and carers of children who have been sexually abused, to help them to support their children though the difficult emotions they are facing.
If issues have triggered or relate to parents’ or carers’ own experiences of sexual violence or abuse, we may suggest they access our adult counselling service .
"A big thank you for helping my little boy become a happy little boy again.”
“I cannot thank you enough. The change is amazing and the work you do is outstanding.”

REFERRALS for primary school aged children
Parents and professionals can refer children to CARA using our online referral form or by telephoning us on
01206 769795
We try to answer calls within office hours. Out of office hours, or if we are unable to answer the phone, calls will go to answerphone.