Play Therapy
Play therapy helps children to identify and work through their own problems. It builds on the natural way that children learn, communicate, and gain insight about themselves. Children can learn to communicate their needs and wants in a manner that allows others to understand and resolve the child’s needs. Play provides a safe psychological distance from the child’s problems and allows expression of thoughts and feelings appropriate to their development.
Why Play in Therapy?
Play therapy is an evidence-based approach to therapy that builds on the normal language of children. It is implemented to help children “play out” what is troubling them when they do not have the language to express their thoughts and feelings. In play therapy, toys are the child’s words and play is the child’s language. It allows children to learn coping skills that enable them to better manage their behaviors and emotions. Play therapy may also be used to increase critical thinking skills for the child, enabling them to develop insight into inner conflicts as well as to solve their difficulties.
What is a Registered Play Therapist?
A Registered Play Therapist (RPT) is a specially trained mental health professional who has met the criteria necessary to be a RPT. They have had 150 hours of training, 300-500 hours of supervision, and have met credentialing by the Association for Play Therapy.
How Does Play Therapy Work?
Often, children have used up their own problem-solving skills which can result in misbehavior at school, home, and with friends. Play therapists can assess and understand children’s play. By confronting problems in the clinical Play Therapy setting, children find healthier solutions for communicating their needs, wants, and feelings.
Who Benefits from Play Therapy?
Although anyone can benefit, play therapy is especially appropriate for children ages 3 through 12. However, in recent years, play therapy interventions have also been applied to infants and toddlers (Schaefer et. al., 2008).
How Will Play Therapy Benefit A Child?
Play therapy can benefit a child experiencing disorders such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity, autism spectrum, oppositional defiance and conduct, anger, crisis, trauma, grief and loss, divorce, family dissolution, academic and social development, and physical and learning.
How Long Does Play Therapy Take?
Each session varies in length but typically lasts about 30-50 minutes. Sessions are usually held weekly.
Will Family Be Involved in Play Therapy?
Family members play an important role in a child’s healing process. The therapist will make decisions about how and when to involve family members in the play therapy. At a minimum, the therapist will want to communicate regularly with the child’s caretakers to develop a plan for resolving problems as they are identified and to monitor progress of the treatment.