Play Therapy

Play Therapy is based on the theory that play is a child’s language, the toys in the playroom consider the words a child uses to express their inner experiences and how they perceive and experience the world. The toys in the playroom are then used by the child to speak to the therapist and communicate their inner thoughts and feelings. Within a therapy session, and over the course of sessions, themes emerge in the child’s play, giving the therapist insight into the child’s experiences, thoughts, feelings, and interpretations of their world.

Play Therapy is an effective technique for helping children who need to be treated for behavioral problems. It’s also good for those diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or Depression. It’s often used for children who have been the victims of abuse too. They’re able to express themselves through play when not able to verbally express various emotions. The type of play is aimed towards developing certain skills as well as allowing a form of expression. Listed are some dimensions of play therapy:

Creative Play For Expressing Emotions

Drawing and painting allow the child to express sometimes difficult and embarrassing feelings that are hard to verbalize. The use of drawing or painting may be part of a free-style technique or the therapist might ask the child to draw a specific image or feeling, which is a way for the therapist to direct the play to reach a clinical objective.

Developing Social Skills

Children live in a social world and yet can really struggle getting along with peers and family members. The therapist can utilize play that reinforces social skills such as building empathy, reading social cues and setting boundaries. Sessions are designed to be age appropriate, fun and non-threatening. The therapist can introduce dolls, puppets or other toys that represent people or other children to replicate social situations during role play.

Building Self Esteem

The use of labeled praise during a session can reinforce self-esteem for a child, coming from both the therapist and the parent. This can be done with drawing or other activities that generate a sense of independence and self-accomplishment.

Improved Communication

The therapist will have a variety of exercises to encourage the growth of an emotional vocabulary for the child. Role play, story-telling and imaginary play are ways for a child to create a narrative that describes the pain they may have been holding on to and need to release in order to move forward and heal.

Dealing With Grief From A Loss

Grief and loss are very difficult emotions, especially for young children who are not emotionally mature to make sense of a trauma. Therapists can use different techniques to help young kids process pain. Sometimes clay is used to allow the child to express difficult emotions. They can direct the child to smooth the clay, punch it to release their anger or express frustration by stretching and ripping it.

Some of the potential benefits to a child from engaging in play therapy are:

• Taking More Responsibility For Certain Behaviors
• Developing Coping Strategies And Creative Problem-solving Skills
• Increasing Self-respect
• Gaining Empathy And Respect For Others
• Reducing The Symptoms Of anxiety
• Learning To Fully Experience And Express Feelings
• Building Stronger Social Skills
• Enhancing Family Relationships

Normal parenting includes concerns about growth and development, child behavioral and social issues, emotional well-being of the child, and financial responsibilities. These concerns alone can result in parental distress. Additional stressors for parents of a child with mental health problems, however, increase parental distress significantly. Challenges experienced by caregivers of children with mental health problems have been associated with parental distress and feelings of being stretched beyond their limits.

Parents caring for children with mental health problems are extremely challenged in getting both their child’s and their own needs met.

• Parents with emotionally challenged children will report their lives being dominated by their child’s intense emotions and problematic behaviors.
• Parents searching for direction, guidance, and practical advice can feel overwhelmed and confused.
• Parents of dysregulated children often report anger, sadness, and guilt, which can result in abuse.
• These parents also report being blamed for their child’s behaviors by family members, school staff, and even by mental health professionals, lowering their self-esteem and confidence.

Play therapy can also benefit a parent of a distressed child. The parent or caregiver will receive support from the therapist while working on the symptoms of the child. By participating in the development of new and more effective patterns of behavior, the parent can reduce friction in their life too. The parent starts encouraging and validating self-expression and emotional effectiveness in their child and can become the agent of change, as much or more than the therapist. The bond of parent and child can normalize and grow into a much happier and healthier relationship.