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"You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation." — Plato Play Therapists are Mental Health Professionals applying the Therapeutic Powers of Play |
What is Play Therapy?
Talking may be the most common form of therapy for adults and many teens, however it is not a very effective way to work with children because their brains are not yet developed in a way where they can communicate in such a cognitive manner.
In Play Therapy, toys are like the child’s words and play is the child’s language (Landreth 2002).Play Therapy is a structured child-centered therapy approach which builds on the normal communication and learning processes of children. Play Therapy is typically used with children ages 3-12, but it can also be implemented with teens and adults. Mental Health Professionals apply the therapeutic power of play to help children express their feelings in a symbolic way through play materials when they do not have the verbal language to do so.
In Play Therapy the therapist creates a safe therapeutic environment for the child to explore their issues and be sensitively responded to by an empathetic and non-judgmental therapist. Play therapy helps children learn to communicate with others, process, understand and express their feelings, develop problem solving skills and improve behavior. Play Therapy allows opportunities for physical, emotional, cognitive development and social growth. Toys found in the playroom include doll house, figurines, doctor’s kits, sandtray & miniatures, art supplies, musical instruments, puppets, games and other items that may facilitate their creative and emotional expression.
What do your Play Therapy sessions look like?
Prior to meeting the child, I will ask to meet with the parent(s) or caregiver(s) by themselves so we can openly talk about history and current concerns. Once you decide I may be a good match for your child, then we can schedule a session for me to meet with the child, typically a family member will also be present during the first session as the child gets used to me. Once they are comfortable, I will meet with them individually for most sessions. I may invite a caregiver for an entire session or portion of the session, every case is different. I may also ask to schedule sessions to meet only with the parent (s) every few weeks.
I will usually invite the child to play in an open-ended manner, I follow the child's lead. The child will be allowed to play in almost any way she would like as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody or anything. As treatment progresses, I may become more directive by encouraging the child to participate in certain activities that would address the child’s current problems. Every child is different, every situation is unique, so therapeutic interventions are tailored to best fit the needs of each child, always keeping in mind the family's culture and beliefs.
Will Play Therapy Work for My Child?
Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy with a great majority of children experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems, including: children whose problems are related to life stressors, such as divorce, death, relocation, hospitalization, chronic illness, stressful experiences, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and natural disasters (Reddy, Files-Hall & Schaefer, 2005).
What are some benefits of Play Therapy?
How Long Does Play Therapy Take?
Each session usually last between 50-55 minutes and are typically held weekly or bi-weekly.
Research suggests that it takes an average of 20 Play Therapy sessions to resolve the problems of the typical child referred for treatment. Of course, some children may improve with only a few sessions while more serious or ongoing problems may take longer to resolve (Landreth, 2002; Carmichael, 2006).
Do I as a parent need to be involved in the therapy process?
Absolutely! While you may not be asked to join most sessions, I will often be consulting with you to check on your child's progress at home and at school, I will also be sharing some suggestions I believe could be helpful to implement in the home or at school based on observations I make during sessions.
You as a parent or caretaker are an essential part of your child's personal growth and transformation. As a therapist, one of my goals is to help your child better understand and handle the many different emotions they may be dealing with, but another of my goals is to help you as a parent or caretaker better identify and understand the needs of your child so you can improve your communication and be his support, coach & mentor for life.
When seeking a play therapist for your child, it is important to look for a therapist with very specific training in play therapy. Simply having toys in a room does not make someone a play therapist. Here is an article that helps you better understand what to look for in a play therapist: http://www.a4pt.org/?page=ClarifyingUseofPT
For more information on play therapy, please visit the Association for Play Therapy website www.a4pt.org
Talking may be the most common form of therapy for adults and many teens, however it is not a very effective way to work with children because their brains are not yet developed in a way where they can communicate in such a cognitive manner.
In Play Therapy, toys are like the child’s words and play is the child’s language (Landreth 2002).Play Therapy is a structured child-centered therapy approach which builds on the normal communication and learning processes of children. Play Therapy is typically used with children ages 3-12, but it can also be implemented with teens and adults. Mental Health Professionals apply the therapeutic power of play to help children express their feelings in a symbolic way through play materials when they do not have the verbal language to do so.
In Play Therapy the therapist creates a safe therapeutic environment for the child to explore their issues and be sensitively responded to by an empathetic and non-judgmental therapist. Play therapy helps children learn to communicate with others, process, understand and express their feelings, develop problem solving skills and improve behavior. Play Therapy allows opportunities for physical, emotional, cognitive development and social growth. Toys found in the playroom include doll house, figurines, doctor’s kits, sandtray & miniatures, art supplies, musical instruments, puppets, games and other items that may facilitate their creative and emotional expression.
What do your Play Therapy sessions look like?
Prior to meeting the child, I will ask to meet with the parent(s) or caregiver(s) by themselves so we can openly talk about history and current concerns. Once you decide I may be a good match for your child, then we can schedule a session for me to meet with the child, typically a family member will also be present during the first session as the child gets used to me. Once they are comfortable, I will meet with them individually for most sessions. I may invite a caregiver for an entire session or portion of the session, every case is different. I may also ask to schedule sessions to meet only with the parent (s) every few weeks.
I will usually invite the child to play in an open-ended manner, I follow the child's lead. The child will be allowed to play in almost any way she would like as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody or anything. As treatment progresses, I may become more directive by encouraging the child to participate in certain activities that would address the child’s current problems. Every child is different, every situation is unique, so therapeutic interventions are tailored to best fit the needs of each child, always keeping in mind the family's culture and beliefs.
Will Play Therapy Work for My Child?
Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy with a great majority of children experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems, including: children whose problems are related to life stressors, such as divorce, death, relocation, hospitalization, chronic illness, stressful experiences, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and natural disasters (Reddy, Files-Hall & Schaefer, 2005).
What are some benefits of Play Therapy?
- Improved concentration
- Greater ability to manage emotion
- Improved self confidence, self-esteem and self efficacy
- Builds resilience and coping skills
- Improvement in social skills and relationships with others
- Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies.
- Develop new and creative solutions to problems.
- Develop respect and acceptance of self and others.
- Learn to experience and express emotion.
- Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others.
- Learn new social skills and relational skills with family.
How Long Does Play Therapy Take?
Each session usually last between 50-55 minutes and are typically held weekly or bi-weekly.
Research suggests that it takes an average of 20 Play Therapy sessions to resolve the problems of the typical child referred for treatment. Of course, some children may improve with only a few sessions while more serious or ongoing problems may take longer to resolve (Landreth, 2002; Carmichael, 2006).
Do I as a parent need to be involved in the therapy process?
Absolutely! While you may not be asked to join most sessions, I will often be consulting with you to check on your child's progress at home and at school, I will also be sharing some suggestions I believe could be helpful to implement in the home or at school based on observations I make during sessions.
You as a parent or caretaker are an essential part of your child's personal growth and transformation. As a therapist, one of my goals is to help your child better understand and handle the many different emotions they may be dealing with, but another of my goals is to help you as a parent or caretaker better identify and understand the needs of your child so you can improve your communication and be his support, coach & mentor for life.
When seeking a play therapist for your child, it is important to look for a therapist with very specific training in play therapy. Simply having toys in a room does not make someone a play therapist. Here is an article that helps you better understand what to look for in a play therapist: http://www.a4pt.org/?page=ClarifyingUseofPT
For more information on play therapy, please visit the Association for Play Therapy website www.a4pt.org
