Play therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses play to help children express their thoughts, feelings and experiences. It is based on the belief that play is a natural medium for children to communicate and process their emotions. Play therapists are trained mental health professionals who use a variety of techniques and interventions to support children in their healing journey.
How Play Therapy Works
“In the play therapy experience,
toys are like the child’s words and
play is the child’s language”
Gary Landreth
(play therapy researcher and author)
In play therapy, children are encouraged to explore and express themselves through play activities such as drawing, storytelling, role-playing and using toys and games. The therapist creates a safe and supportive environment where the child feels comfortable to express themselves freely.
During play therapy sessions, the therapist observes the child’s play and interactions, paying attention to themes, patterns and emotions expressed through their play. The play therapist is often invited into the play with the child. Through these observations and interactions the therapist can gain insight into the child’s inner world, child anxiety, struggles and areas of need.
Clearly, a strong bond of trust and connection is needed and this takes a little time to develop over several sessions.
The therapist may be non-directive or directive, may use different play therapy techniques and interventions to address specific goals or issues, such as improving social skills, managing anxiety or trauma, building self-esteem, or processing grief and loss. These interventions may include art therapy, sand tray therapy, puppet play, guided visualisations, depending on the play therapy modality used. At all times however, the play therapy process moves at the pace of the child and is never goal orientated. It is child orientated, with hopes and expectations in mind but always being with the child where they are in their process at all times.
Benefits of Play Therapy
Play therapy offers numerous benefits for children facing various challenges, social, emotional and behavioural.
Emotional Expression
Play therapy provides a safe and non-threatening space for children to express their thoughts and feelings, even those they may not have words for. Through play, children can communicate and process their emotions more effectively.
Problem-Solving Skills
Play therapy encourages children to explore and experiment with different solutions to problems they may encounter during play. This helps them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills that they can apply to real-life situations and relationships.
Self-Exploration and Insight
By engaging in play activities, children can gain insight into their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. They may discover new ways of coping with challenges or understanding themselves better.
Stress Reduction
Play therapy can help reduce stress and anxiety by providing a supportive outlet for children to release tension and externalise pent-up emotions. Engaging in play activities can be soothing and calming for children, the co-regulation with the therapist promoting relaxation and emotional regulation.
Relationships
During the play therapy process a child can better access their regulated self, operate more in the optimal zone of their nervous system, allowing them to improve their social skills and strengthen relationships. Research shows that play therapy can reduce child anxiety and lead to healthier parent-child relationships.
Parent support
Parents are often struggling themselves by the time their child can access play therapy services. Many therapists approach the process with parents as partners, seeing that the parent also needs support and parenting tips and effective parenting strategies. This approach champions the child, nurtures the needs of the child whilst nurturing family bonds.
Effectiveness of Play Therapy
Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of play therapy in helping children overcome a wide range of issues.. Research has shown that play therapy can lead to significant improvements in children’s emotional and behavioural functioning, as well as their overall well-being.
Play therapy is particularly effective for children aged 4 to 13 years who may have difficulty expressing themselves verbally or understanding complex emotions. By engaging in play therapy with an accredited play therapist, children can communicate and process their experiences in a developmentally appropriate way, leading to positive outcomes and lasting changes. It offers children the opportunity to explore, learn and develop essential skills that can support them throughout their lives.
For families who are experiencing high levels of anxiety and would like to access whole family counselling services there are varied types of services to access, depending on your needs. Many services offer a combination of family therapy sessions combined with one to one sessions. Others offer family relationship counselling. It’s important to do research around what is available in your area, get information on the services available and the process involved in each and go with what feels right and also who feels like a good fit for you and your family. Parenting support groups can be a first step to getting some gentle support in a confidential way.
