Play Therapy

​What Is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is primarily used to help children ages 3-12 to freely express thoughts and emotions through play. The goal is to help my clients to express themselves in healthier ways, to learn new and positive skills to problem solve and to become more respectful and empathic. Play therapy is a specialized therapeutic practice that allows therapists to reach children on their own level.

Children do not have the same cognitive ability that their parents have to be able to communicate what’s bothering them. Whether medical, psychological, or behavioral issues, play therapy helps clients who are unable to verbalize their feelings.

Playing is a child’s work; children learn almost everything while playing. As experiential learners, play is a child’s language and toys are the child’s words. Play therapy is a special process that focuses on children’s need to express themselves using toys in play. Children are encouraged to play as they wish while working with me, their therapist. I will provide a safe and understanding environment for the young child in therapy. In this process, a wide variety of toys are made available to children to encourage the expression of emotional concerns. Children are given the opportunity to express themselves through a variety of styles including art, sand-tray, dramatic play and fantasy play.

Why is Play Therapy better for my child than other forms of therapy?

Playing is a natural force in children; children like to play. Children are generally not able to understand or verbally expr­­ess their feelings or experiences the way adults do. It ­­is inappropriate to believe that talking to a child as you would adults, would meet the special needs of young children. Play becomes a therapeutic process to children as they give expression to their experiences and emotions. During play therapy sessions, children can recreate the experiences that are part of their anger, fear, sadness or frustration which is currently influencing their behavior. A special benefit of play therapy is that the child can create therapeutic play at their own developmental level. The relationship with the therapist allows children a sense of security when recreating emotionally stressful experiences.

What happens during the Play Therapy process?

Children can create play in the experiential play therapy process that resembles the emotional experiences they are struggling with internally. Children, in general, cannot verbalize these experiences: instead, they will select special toys to include in their play and use those toys to recreate issues that represent emotional conflicts that are important to the child and the healthy emotional development of the child. Beginning with this form of expression, the child’s play evolves until the child gains a sense of understanding, mastery and comfort over a troubling situation.

How does Play Therapy really help my child?

When the child engages in the vivid and liberating “games” of play therapy, self-esteem increases which positively influences the child’s relationships with others. Children and their parents can enjoy each other more. From the play therapy process, children begin to better enjoy their interactions with others from their changed perspective. This process leads to higher self-esteem and more enjoyment of activities with family, friends and peers. In turn, parenting becomes more enjoyable!

How long will my child be in therapy?

This is not an easy question to answer since it relates to each child differently. Many factors influence the amount of time needed in therapy. Play therapy is a process that depends on several conditions in the child’s past and present experiences. The present developmental stage of the child and the age of the child at the onset of the issue all play a major part in how much therapeutic support might be needed. The more recent the events, the shorter the length in time. The further back the child’s development that the onset of the issues occurred, the longer the play process will most likely take.

How is playing in the office “playroom” different than when my child plays at home?

Play serves the same foundation in both situations because playing is a natural way for children to rehearse for life’s interactions and demands. Play serves three basic purposes:
  1. To facilitate emotional purposes
  2. To facilitate motor development
  3. To facilitate cognitive development
Together we recreate a balance in the child’s sense of well-being. Children discover new ways to cope through this process of experiential play therapy.

How will I be involved as the child’s parent(s)?

I encourage parent involvement because it’s an important component of the play therapy process. I believe in consulting with parents as part of each session.  I also may involve the parent by inviting them to join in the play process.  I will also encourage you to follow my recommendations outside of the play therapy room to support the therapy process. One of the most important part that a parent plays is to keep me informed of any major changes in the child’s life or emotional tone that needs to be addressed in therapy.