What is Play Therapy?
By: Julie Sams, MA, LPC
Play is a child’s natural form of communication. Through play therapy, a child can use a puppet show, art, or playing with doll houses as a way to communicate feelings and a therapist is able to help them work through concerns that are expressed. Play therapists have received specialized training and extensive experience in a way of responding to children that not only helps the child to address specific concerns but helps them improve overall feelings of self-esteem and self-confidence.
Play Therapy:
Promotes independence
Increases Self-esteem
Improves Confidence
Increases Decision-Making
Improves the ability to communicate their feelings
Builds trust in therapy
Reduces anxiety about therapy
Through play, a trusting relationship can be developed and areas of concern can be addressed in a natural way. Also, since play is what children love to do, children typically enter a play therapy session with less worry about therapy and eager to get started. Even with older children, play therapy is used to teach social skills, conflict resolution, expression of feelings, and problem solving skills through play by use of traditional board, therapy board games, and card games. Often games and toys can be used as a way to help children identify and work through certain areas of concern and discuss alternative ways of handling difficult situations. Books can also be a great way to teach children to discuss their feelings and identify new strategies for change.
I have been practicing play therapy since 1997, receiving specific training in Child-Centered Play Therapy, and love helping children reach therapy goals while at the same time they are playing and enjoy the process.