Play Therapy
Children are more than capable of experiencing big feelings. It can be difficult to express those feelings with words, so we transition to a child’s natural medium of communication, play. Kids can use toys to express what they cannot say. This is the way the child will be able to express their personalities, emotions, and thoughts. Play can give the child control to describe their experiences through their own lenses. They get to choose their own toys to express feelings that may be too big or threatening to express verbally. Additionally, children will develop cognitive, affective, and sensorimotor skills, which will be helpful for the rest of their life.
The overarching goal of play therapy is to create a secure base for the child to grow. The therapist will work to increase communication, understanding, and emotional relatedness within the child. An important reminder is that the therapist is not an expert on the child’s life. Throughout the process of therapy, the therapist will look at the child holistically and seek to build trust. As trust is increased, the therapist will become an external regulator for the child, meaning that the child will look to the therapist for guidance and instruction. Consequently, the child will learn self regulation. The therapist will strive to help them reach their full potential. Through this process, the child will develop strategies for how to cope, learn helpful problem solving techniques, and learn how to effectively interact with friends and family.
A play therapy session will look different depending on the child and their experiences. However, there is a standard model for how the first few sessions of play therapy should look. The therapist will start by introducing the room in an age appropriate manner. From there, the child will get freedom and space to explore the room. Examples of toys that may be present are dollhouses, sand trays, symbolic characters, cars and stuffed animals. The child will be told that on occasion, the therapist will lead the session (directive play therapy), however, the child will also get their opportunity to be the boss (non-directive play therapy). This relationship between the therapist and the child will allow the child to explore themselves and their experiences so that they can create change.
There are plenty of interventions within play therapy which could be helpful depending on the child. Some techniques that are frequently used in play therapy sessions include board games, storytelling, art, using building blocks, puppet play, musical play, and dance. The therapist will choose whether or not they want to integrate the directive or non-directive approach into each session. It will all depend on the child’s needs and what they are most comfortable with.
Lastly, it is important to touch on the parent or guardian’s role in the child’s play therapy process. Through their interactions with the child, the therapist will be able to discuss with the guardians how to monitor the child’s treatment at home and how to potentially change their interaction with the child. There is even a possibility that the parents or guardians could sit in on a play therapy session at some point. There are many techniques that parents and guardians can utilize to ensure that they support their child during their healing process.
Play therapy can be administered to children who have experienced violence and abuse, anxiety and depression, learning disabilities, and many other circumstances. Regardless of the condition, play therapy will work to create a safe and secure base for the child to express their thoughts and emotions through play. We are learning more about how therapy is not limited to talking. Using a child’s natural medium of communication is ideal in their healing process.