What is Play therapy?
Play therapy is to children what counseling is to adults. It utilizes play, children's natural medium of expression, to help them communicate, express emotions, and resolve psychological challenges more easily through toys instead of words. Play therapy is especially beneficial for children ages 3-12. For a video explaining more CLICK HERE
What will my child gain through the play therapy process?
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.
Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities.
Does my child need play therapy?
Throughout their lives, most children go through difficult times, such as the divorce of their parents, trouble making friends, or adjusting to changes at school or home. Some children need more help than others to get through these times. If you or other adults in your child's life are concerned about your child's behavior, play therapy can help. It is the most developmentally appropriate treatment for helping your child work through difficult times and helping you gain a better understanding of what your child is going through.
What is The difference between play therapy and playing with my child at home?
Play therapists are specifically trained to provide an environment of acceptance, empathy and understanding in the play therapy room. Play therapy is not the same thing as playing. Play therapy uses the child's natural tendency to "play out" their reactions to life situations, in the presence of a trained play therapist, to help the child feel accepted and understood and gain a sense of control or understanding of difficult situations.
Is Play Therapy Effective?
Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy with children experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems, including: anxiety, depression, ADHD, Autism, etc. It also helps children whose problems are related to life stressors, such as divorce, death, relocation, hospitalization, chronic illness, assimilating stressful experiences, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and natural disasters. Play therapy is an effective mental health approach, regardless of age, gender, or the nature of the problem, and works best when a parent, family member, or caretaker is actively involved in the treatment process. For research supporting the efficacy of play therapy CLICK HERE or HERE