Play Therapy is Child Therapy
Play therapy is becoming an increasingly popular method for children who need emotional support. It’s a great way to help kids who have experienced trauma or difficult life situations, as it focuses on letting them do what comes naturally (PLAY!), rather than forcing them to sit in an unfamiliar situation and talk.
Play therapy is, as you might expect, a type of therapy that allows children to play freely, or sometimes with specific toys as guides. They can utilize their imaginations and do what they do best to express themselves and their feelings.
As a parent, you can learn a lot from your child’s play therapy sessions, including where they might be struggling, and how they view the world around them.
So, what can you expect from play therapy sessions? Is it the right option for you and your child?
What Does Play Therapy Look Like?
Play therapy will be slightly different during each session depending on your child’s needs and what they best respond to. A therapist will use toys, instruments, games, and art to help your child express themselves and talk about the things they’re going through.
Children aren’t always able to have the kind of dialogue necessary to get to the root of a problem.
Play therapy meets them at their level. It’s a developmentally-appropriate way to connect with them and learn more about what they’re dealing with by interacting with them in their comfort zone.
During a typical session, a therapist will observe your child’s natural behaviors as they play. They might encourage them to work with certain toys, like puppets or dolls, to express themselves even more. Sometimes, the therapist might guide them with questions that they can answer through playing or drawing.
Typically, parents aren’t directly involved in the sessions, but you can talk to the therapist afterward.
What Are the Benefits?
What’s the real point of play therapy?
If your child has a hard time expressing themselves or if they’ve gone through a traumatic event, play therapy will help them to better understand their own emotions. It will help them learn to express themselves in healthy ways and with appropriate behaviors. They’ll also boost their communication skills, so they will eventually be able to discuss their feelings more openly and show more vulnerability.
While almost any child can benefit from play therapy, it’s especially effective for children who are dealing with anxiety, depression, grief, or other stressors of life. Things like divorce, changing schools, and other other major life changes can be especially difficult on a little one. Play therapy can help them learn how to manage those emotions and express them appropriately.
Is Play Therapy Right for Your Child?
As a parent, it’s up to you to determine whether play therapy is the right option for your child’s needs. It can be difficult to take a step back and let a therapist help your child work through their emotions. But, doing so through play and imagination will be easier on your little one, and you’ll still be a part of “the loop” when you discuss things with their therapist.
Play therapy can be the best option for your child if they’ve gone through a big life change recently. Perhaps you got divorced or had to move. Maybe they lost a grandparent or another loved one. Or, you might simply be concerned about their developmental progress when it comes to emotions and behaviors.
If you’re concerned about your child’s ability to work through those issues on their own, and they have a natural tendency to play and pretend, this type of therapy is wonderful for helping them open up while assuring them they’re in a safe space. If you’d like to learn more about play therapy, support for your child, and what to expect, please feel free to contact me.