Explaining Play Therapy
PLAY THERAPIST IN DALLAS, ALEXANDRIA, AND ATLANTA
THERAPY IN VIRGINIA, TEXAS AND GEORGIA
What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is counseling for a child that uses play for optimal expression of thoughts, feelings, and experiences based on development. Play therapy is to children what talk therapy is to adults. Because play is a child's natural way to express, it is easier for children to pair toys with verbalization, to facilitate their overall expression of thoughts and feelings. Sometimes Kids do not even know how to describe or understand what they are thinking or feeling inside, so they act out or show how they feel through play. Neurobiological research indicates and supports the importance of using play for overall health and integration of children for improved coping strategies and brain regulation.
Play Therapy can help nurture and develop a child’s brain by creating and enhancing neurosynaptic pathways, which helps to facilitate the following:
General Character Development
Self-regulation
Self-concept and Esteem Building
Development of Self-control
Development of Self-responsibility
Mastery and Cognitive Development
Development of Empathy and Social Skills
Development of Constructive Self-expression
Social Skills
Play Therapy can also provide an outlet to help children cope with and/or overcome problems, including but not limited to the following:
Learning Difficulties
Worry and Anxiety
Defiance
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity
Sadness
Aggression
Psychosomatic complaints (e.g., tummy and headaches)
Social skills
Reasons for Play Therapy?
A child may be angry, sad, confused, or displaying behaviors at home and/or school that parents and/or teachers do not understand. A child may be struggling with appropriate self-expression, self-esteem, and self-control. A child may also be struggling with general self-regulation.
Things a Child Learns in Play Therapy?
By creating a safe expressive space paired with a nurturing therapeutic relationship, a child is able to work on the following:
· Controlling their behavior
· Expressing needs and ideas in a more constructive way
· Making healthy decisions/ choices
· Accepting appropriate responsibility
· Fostering and developing empathy
· Enhancing Focus and Attention
· Employing Social Skills
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions about Play Therapy:
1. How long will my child need Play Therapy?
All children and reasons for entering into Play Therapy are unique. Just like adults in counseling, it is hard to predict how long play therapy will take for children. Your counselor will create a treatment plan and will be assessing for progress. Research does indicate two things: (1) involving family members in the process of child counseling can help and (2) that externalizing behaviors (hitting, yelling, etc.) seem to indicate change faster than internalizing behaviors (anxiety, depression, etc.).
Some children may come a few times, others a few months, and some for a year or more. Your Play Therapist will be in communication with you regarding your child’s progress in the Playroom and your report of their behavior at home/ school. Parent involvement and willingness to learn new tools and ways of responding to their child at home, enhances the therapeutic process.
2. How to introduce your child to Play Therapy?
You may tell your child they will be coming to see Miss/Mr./Mrs.(first name) in his/her special playroom or via telehealth once a week, where there are lots of toys for him/her to play with. If he/she asks why he/she is coming, be brief in your response with something such as, “Because things have been hard for you at home and/or school lately, like (e.g., paying attention at school or getting out of the car in the morning). Sometimes it’s helpful for kids to go to a counselor to help learn what to do and to feel better”.
3. How to prepare for Play Therapy session? (Play Therapy Logistics)
· Forewarn parents that children may be loud in playroom (and messy!), and that is normal.
· Remind parents to wait in the waiting room during session in case the session needs to end early, child needs to go potty during session, etc.
· Highlight the need for a final session if the parents decide to prematurely terminate therapy (to help close the process for the child)
· Dress your child in play clothes so that your child is comfortable and free to express and not be worried about getting good clothes dirty. Children sometimes get messy during the play sessions from sand, art supplies, and other play modalities.
· Be sure to give your child a snack and take your child potty right before.
· Try not to rush to get to the therapy appointment as this may have a competing effect on the brain.
· It is also helpful, if possible, to create a routine around coming to therapy (i.e., we go home, change clothes, eat a cookie and milk at the table, and get in the car to go to play therapy).
· It is also important to be aware of when you schedule the appointment. Be sure to not schedule your appointment during something your child has to miss that is important to him/her. This can cause your child to be frustrated with coming to therapy and not gain as much benefit from therapy.
· Lastly, be sure to be confident about the therapy yourself. If your child senses you are worried or dislike something, he/she can react to this. If there is any reason you are not feeling confident or sure about the value or process of therapy, be sure to discuss this with your therapist; this is a normal feeling and Counselor’s welcome such conversations to help clients become more accustomed and comfortable with the therapeutic process.
4. How to engage my child after a Play Therapy session?
Some helpful questions and statement you can say to your child when they return from the session to show your interest and facilitate engagement could entail: “What was it like?”; Commenting on the child’s demeanor (e.g., “You look excited”); “What do you think you will do next time?”; “What was something in the room you liked?”
It is helpful to avoid asking your child if they were good in therapy. While the therapist will have boundaries, it is important that the child feels comfortable to show up as themselves in order to get the most out of therapy.
After telehealth play therapy sessions, it is important to include time in your schedule to independently clean up the toys after your child is finished with each telehealth play session. This will allow your child to more freely engage and benefit from the session. Your Counselor will manage this during in-person play therapy sessions.
5. How to get the most out of Play Therapy?
Your play therapist will be discussing things you can do at home to help the therapeutic process. Also, it is helpful that you are (1) consistent in bringing your child to therapy as recommended by the treatment plan and (2) that you are honest with the play therapist about what is occurring with your child’s behavior.
If you have any other questions, you are welcome to ask your counselor/play therapist
References:
Garry Landreth (2012)
Misty Solt (2015)
Natalie Morse (2015)
Tizita Seifu (2022)