Play Therapy
What is play therapy?
Play therapy uses many kinds of toys, games, and drama to help your child learn to deal with frightening feelings or events. Talking therapies may not work with young children who have trouble expressing their feelings. Play therapy helps children express themselves without words.
Play therapists view play itself as a healing process. Play therapy can be helpful for children of all ages but is most often used for children between the ages of 3 and 12.
What happens during play therapy sessions?
Play therapists create a safe and interesting environment for your child. This helps the child to feel comfortable and to be willing to explore. Your child may use dolls, action figures, modeling clay, art supplies, or other toys to express themselves and work on their problems.
The therapist may observe as your child chooses the toys they wish to play with in the therapy room. Or, the therapist may carefully choose toys for your child, based on your child's history and experiences. The therapist will observe how your child plays with the toys, the feelings expressed, and any aggressive actions. The therapist will set limits on your child's behavior if needed. Play therapy usually works in stages:
- At the start of therapy, your child may feel negative, fearful, or angry about many people or events.
- As play therapy progresses, your child's feelings first become more intense and focused on certain people or events.
- In time, your child becomes less negative and less angry. Your child feels more positive and starts to see people and events in a more balanced way.
Sometimes play therapy can involve the whole family. Usually, therapists work only with your child and regularly report their findings to you. They will also suggest how you can best support your child.
How do I find a play therapist?
Several kinds of mental health professionals can provide play therapy. These include psychologists, social workers, and marriage and family therapists. The International Society for Child and Play Therapy lists Registered Play Therapists on their Web site. This credential requires the therapist to be licensed by the state, have a master's degree in a mental health field, specialized training, and at least 2 years of experience. The Web site address is http://www.playtherapy.org/. You could also ask your family healthcare provider or your child's school counselor to recommend a play therapist who specializes in working with children.
Written by Pamela Daniel, PhD, for RelayHealth.
Published by RelayHealth.
© 2009 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved.
