Play Therapy Explained

Introduction

There is commonly a stigma that goes along with mental health counseling or therapy. Because of this, there is a tendency to avoid therapy and we rarely think about children attending therapy. Children struggle with emotions just as adults and it can be more difficult for them to express their emotions in a healthy way. There is a style of therapy that is specific for children and utilizes an intuitive way that children learn and communicate. This is known as Play Therapy! In this post, we will define play therapy, identify a few examples of how play is therapeutic, and list three types of play therapy.

What is Play Therapy?

The Association for Play Therapy defines play therapy as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained Play Therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.” To clarify, significant research has been done on how children best learn and communicate. Play is the most intuitive way of expressing and processing information. Play therapy, therefore, is a systematic way to help children resolve emotional distress and learn healthy coping skills to achieve optimal growth. Children do not always have the words or the vocabulary to describe or express what they are experiencing.

Why is Play Therapy Important?

Children deserve to have their needs met and experience joy as they are exploring and understanding the world around them. While life is not perfect and can be unpredictable, it is important that children have treatment available to them to manage cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges. In addition, this style of treatment utilizes the natural way children express themselves and allow them to learn without while being in a more comfortable setting where they can practice skills they already have. One of the best explanations of play therapy is given by Virginia Axline,

“Play Therapy is based upon the fact that play is the child’s natural medium of self-expression … It is an opportunity which is given to the child to ‘play out’ his feelings and problems just as in certain types of adult therapy an individual ‘talks out’ his difficulties.” Utilizing the skills that children already use is the best way to help them improve their emotional well-being.

Three Common Activities of Play Therapy

Play

As stated in the name, play is the primary focus of play therapy. There are a variety of evidence-based or “proven” modalities that can be used to treat cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges. To a parent, it will look like “child-led” play, structured or guided play, role playing, and/or “make-believe.” There are typically themes of play that a Play Therapist is trained to identify and help the child process. Play Therapist can inform and instruct parents on how they can help their child through play.

Sand Tray

According to an article in Medical News Today, “Sand tray therapy is a creative counseling technique where a person expresses their understanding of themselves, their world, and aspects of their reality through figurines or miniatures. The scenes created in a sand tray reflect the person’s past and present inner thoughts, feelings, and hardships.”

Expressive Arts

The focus of these activities is to help with emotional expression that may be difficult to identify or express using words. Kendra Cherry, in an article on VeryWellMind, defined it as, “a process of self-discovery that relies on artistic self-expression as a way to achieve emotional release.” A variety of mediums can be used including painting, drawing, writing, dancing, music, or dramatic expression. Children naturally seek these activities, and they allow children to express themselves while developing skills and understanding.

Closing

To wrap it up Play Therapy is a specialized and systemic therapy that allows children to utilize the power of play to help them manage and understand emotion, thoughts, and actions. It can help your child live a more joyful and healthier life by experiencing themselves in a safe and age-appropriate way. This is commonly done through play, sand tray, and expressive arts by a clinician that is trained to analyze, interpret, and teach a child to deal with life challenges. They can also provide support to the parent to help the child at home and more long-term as needed. If you feel like your child could benefit from Play Therapy and learn ways to live a happy life, please visit our website and call to schedule an appointment for a free consult.

Association of Play Therapy (2022). https://www.a4pt.org/page/ParentsCornerHomePag

Cherry, Kendra (2021). What is Expressive Arts Therapy?. VeryWellMind, Aug. 2021. https://www.verywellmind.com/expressive-arts-therapy-definition-types-techniques-and-efficacy-5197564

Tee-Melegrito, Rachel (2022). Sand Tray Therapy: Definition, Uses, and Techniques. Medical News Today, April 2022. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/sand-tray-therapy-definition-uses-and-techniques