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play therapy

Why Play?

Play is the child’s language and …

In recent years a growing number of mental health professionals such as counsellors and psychologists have observed that play is an important factor when it comes to human happiness and well being..

 

Play is a fun, enjoyable activity that elevates our spirits and brightens our outlook on life. It expands self-expression, self-knowledge, self-actualization and self-efficacy. Play relieves feelings of stress and boredom, connects us to people in a positive way, stimulates creative thinking and exploration, regulates our emotions, allows us to practice skills and roles needed for healthy relationships

Why Play in Therapy?

Therapists use play therapy to help children express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings. In play therapy, toys are like the child’s words and play is the child’s language.

What Is Play Therapy?

… toys are the child’s words!

Play therapy is a structured, theoretically based approach to therapy that builds on the normal communicative and learning processes of children through child development and neuroscience.

Initially developed in the turn of the 20th century, today play therapy refers to a large number of treatment methods, all applying the therapeutic benefits of play. Play therapy differs from regular play in that the therapist helps children to address and resolve their own problems. Through play therapy, children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and learn a variety of ways of relating to others. Play therapy provides the child with a free and protected space which allows expression of thoughts and feelings appropriate to their development.

How Does Play Therapy Work?

Play therapy helps children cope with difficult emotions and find solutions to, it uses tools such as sand, clay, puppets, art & crafts to help children change the way they think about, feel toward, and resolve their concerns. Even the most troubling problems can be confronted in play therapy and lasting resolutions can be discovered, rehearsed, mastered and adapted into lifelong strategies.

Who Benefits from Play Therapy?

Children from age 3 to 11, but teenagers and adults can also benefit from play therapy.

How Will Play Therapy Benefit A Child?

Play therapy helps children:

  • 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 play therapy session varies in length but usually last about 30 to 45 minutes. Sessions are usually held weekly. Research suggests that it takes an average of 20 play therapy sessions to start to resolve the   child’s issues, of course, some children may improve much faster while more serious or ongoing problems may take longer to.

In some cases it may be necessary to refer a child on to other services such as CAMHS (child & adolescent mental health service)

How May My Family Be Involved in Play Therapy?

Families play an important role in children’s healing processes. The interaction between children’s problems and their families is always complex. Sometimes children develop problems as a way of signaling that there is something wrong in the family. Other times the entire family becomes distressed because the child’s problems are so disruptive. In all cases, children and families heal faster when they work together.

The play therapist will make some decisions about how and when to involve some or all members of the family in the play therapy. At a minimum, the therapist will want to communicate regularly with the child’s parent’s/carer’s to develop a plan for resolving problems as they are identified and to monitor the progress of the child.