Play Therapy
Play therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses play to help children express emotions, develop social skills, and resolve psychological challenges in a safe, non-verbal environment.
A Little About Play Therapy
Play therapy has many benefits in life, regardless of age. Play therapy is fun, educational, creative, and stress relieving and encourages positive social interactions and communication. When playing, children learn to tolerate frustration, regulate their emotions, and excel at a task that is innate. Children can practice new skills in a way that makes sense to them, without the structured confines of “the real world” or the need to use verbal language. There are no mistakes too big to overcome through play, and no challenges too tricky to attempt. Play therapy gives children a chance to master their worlds as they create, develop, and maintain their own senses of self. Children use play therapy to communicate when they do not have the words to share their needs and look to adults to understand their language. As Landreth (2002a) aptly pointed out, play is a child’s language and toys are the words.
Toys as Tools
Toys are used as tools to help children project their thoughts and emotions, with common items including dolls, puppets, sand trays, and art materials.
Ages
3 - 12
It is primarily used for children ages 3 to 12, though it can be adapted for teens and adults in some cases.
Play Therapy Benefits
- Dealing with medical procedures, chronic illness, or palliative care
- Developmental delays or learning disabilities.
- Behavioral problems at school
- Aggressive or angry behavior
- Family problems, such as divorce, separation, or the death of a close family member
- Natural or traumatic events
- Domestic violence, abuse, or neglect
- Anxiety, depression, sadness
- Eating and toileting disorders
- Autism and ADHD
