“Play is a child’s work and this is not a trivial pursuit.” - Alfred Adler
Play Therapy.
Adults often process difficult experiences by talking about them. Children do this through the language of play. Play therapy enables a child to create positive change in their life by offering a safe place for authentic self-expression, exploration of new (perhaps more adaptive) identities, and processing of experiences.
Through self-directed play, children are able to choose what toys (or “words”) best reflect their internal experience. Allowing children to choose what materials to use in the playroom also conveys the message that their needs matter, that they are capable of making healthy choices, and that they can trust their own abilities. It is the goal of the play therapist to help the child feel understood, accepted, valued, and safe. It is through the safety of the therapeutic relationship that the child is then able to create positive change by developing new beliefs, trying new behaviors, and accepting new emotions.
Research has found play therapy to benefit children presenting with various issues including adjustment to family change, grief & loss, post-traumatic symptoms, oppositional & defiant behaviors, social difficulties, and neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD. Through this relational, developmentally-informed treatment approach your child can process past events, find ways to cope with current challenges, and develop the resources needed for future success.
Play therapy can benefit children and families in a number of ways, including:
Increased emotional awareness. Children learn to notice what they are feeling, to name those emotions, and that all feelings are acceptable.
Improved self-control. When children become aware of what it is that they are feeling, those feelings often lose some of their power which allows them to feel in charge of their own body again. The use of therapeutic limit-setting in the playroom also helps children practice self-control by providing an opportunity to choose a more appropriate way to express themselves.
Enhanced self-confidence. Through encouragement and returning responsibility back to the child in play therapy, confidence and a sense of autonomy can be gained.
Improved decision-making skills. Children can learn how to make appropriate decisions by being given opportunities to practice making choices in the playroom. Allowing children to make even small choices in their lives also provides them with a sense of agency and empowerment.