What ages does The Play Therapy Centre work with?

Group play therapy is for children aged 3 to 12, and the teen rooms for creative arts therapy are for ages 13 to 18. No age range is published for one-to-one play therapy, so ask the provider.

How much does play therapy cost at PTC?

Fees for therapy sessions are not published. Ask the provider by WhatsApp on +971 50 783 4705 or email hello@playtherapycentre.ae.

Can I stay with my child during sessions?

In child-parent play therapy you take part with your child. For individual sessions, a Gulf News feature from April 2025 describes parents waiting outside the playroom and meeting the therapist afterwards. Ask the provider how it works for your child.

Is there an assessment before therapy?

The centre offers a play-based assessment, which can include an intake session with the parent, questionnaires such as the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and a family play observation. Ask the provider whether your child will start with one.

Does the centre support children of determination?

Yes. It offers child-centred play therapy for children of determination, to help with emotional difficulties, social skills, trauma and other challenges.

Where is it and how do I book?

Office 3005, Fortune Tower, Cluster C, Jumeirah Lakes Towers. Book by WhatsApp or phone on +971 50 783 4705 or email hello@playtherapycentre.ae.

The Play Therapy Centre: play therapy for children in JLT

Name: The Play Therapy Centre (PTC)
Address: Fortune Tower - office 3005 - Al Thanyah Fifth - Jumeirah Lakes Towers - Dubai, Dubai, Dubai, AE
Telephone: +971 50 783 4705

Special NeedsCreative & Play Therapy

New to Waha

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

JLT

The Play Therapy Centre (PTC) is a small therapy practice in Fortune Tower, JLT, run by two accredited play therapists, Gemma Hookins and Stella Antoniou. It opened in September 2024, and the centre describes itself as the first play therapy centre in the Gulf region. Its work is child-centred play therapy: children use toys, art and stories to express what they can't easily say, in play rooms stocked to Play Therapy International standards. There are one-to-one sessions, small groups for children aged 3 to 12, where each child plays with two or three peers, child-parent sessions that build the bond between you and your child, and play therapy for children of determination. Teenagers aged 13 to 18 get their own rooms with art materials, musical instruments and board games for creative arts therapy. Parents can also book coaching. The centre lists anxiety, grief, family changes such as divorce or relocation, school stress, bullying, tantrums and separation anxiety among the things it helps with. This is therapy rather than a hobby class, and the centre also offers a play-based assessment.

playtherapycentre.ae Instagram LinkedIn

The activity

Creative & Play Therapy, explained

Play therapy is a form of talking therapy for children who don't yet have the words for what they feel. In a room set up with toys, art materials, sand trays and musical instruments, a trained play therapist follows the child's lead while they play, draw or build scenes. Stories and pretend play become a safe way to work through worries, big feelings, changes at home or difficult experiences. It can help with anxiety, anger, confidence, friendships and settling after a move or separation. Sessions are one to one, in small groups or with a parent, and many play therapists work with children from about three upwards; older children and teenagers often move on to art or music-based creative therapy.

Who it's for

Children and teenagers with emotional, social or behavioural difficulties. Group play therapy is for children aged 3 to 12; the teen rooms for adolescent creative arts therapy are for ages 13 to 18. Children of determination (children with special needs or disabilities) are offered child-centred play therapy. Parents can join child-parent play therapy or book parent coaching. No age range is published for one-to-one play therapy; ask the provider.

What to expect

The centre offers a play-based assessment; ask whether your child will start with one. It lists an intake session with the parent, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, the Blob Tree, the House-Person-Tree test, a playtime exercise and a family play observation among the tools it may use. In sessions your child plays freely while the therapist follows their lead. A Gulf News feature from April 2025 describes parents staying outside the playroom and meeting the therapist afterwards to talk things through. Session length, fees and whether a free first call is offered are not published: ask the provider. Book by WhatsApp or email.

Highlights

One-to-one child-centred play therapy, plus small groups for ages 3-12 where each child plays with 2-3 peers (playtherapycentre.ae)
Child-parent play therapy, where the therapist guides you and your child through play together (playtherapycentre.ae)
Creative arts therapy for teens aged 13-18 in rooms with art materials, musical instruments and board games (playtherapycentre.ae)
Play therapy for children of determination (playtherapycentre.ae)
Run by co-founders Gemma Hookins and Stella Antoniou, both accredited play therapists; Gemma previously worked at Al Jalila Hospital (playtherapycentre.ae)
5.0 on Google from 3 reviews (Google listing)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

The Play Therapy Centre is rated 5.0 on Google from 3 reviews, all of them five stars.

The facts

Ages: Group play therapy: 3-12
Adolescent creative arts therapy: 13-18
One-to-one: ask the provider
Not published yet: Ask about prices and trials
Where: Office 3005, Fortune Tower, Cluster C, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai
How to book: wa.me/971507834705 · +971 50 783 4705 · [email protected]
Opening hours: Every day1pm–8:30pm

Questions parents ask

Good to know

Office 3005, Fortune Tower, Cluster C, JLT (playtherapycentre.ae)
Paid street parking; wheelchair-accessible car park, seating and toilet; appointments recommended (Google listing)
Has run holiday groups, including a Winter Camp 2025 for ages 4-9 and an earlier Summer Play & Social Skills Group for ages 5-10; ask whether one is planned (playtherapycentre.ae)
Parents can also book creative parent coaching for themselves (playtherapycentre.ae)