30/01/2021
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy used mainly for children 3-12 years old, as they may not be able to deal with their own emotions or explain their problems to parents or other adults. It is a research-based technique utilized for almost 100 years, and is supported by extensive clinical literature.
Who will benefit from play therapy?
Children who experience depression, anxiety, stress, grief, uncontrolled anger, and many other issues, caused by complex life experiences, such as sibling appearance, family breakdown, mental or physical abuse, witnessing or experiencing domestic violence, loss of a relative, relocation, chronic illnesses and hospitalization, natural disasters or neglect. Play therapy can also encourage the use of language and improve fine and gross motor skills. It may also help children with developmental delay or learning disabilities, eating disorders, and children who exhibit autistic behaviors.
*However, if a child has a diagnosed mental or physical illness, play therapy does not replace medications or any other necessary treatments. Play therapy can be used alone or alongside other therapies.
What is the result?
Play therapy results in social integration, growth and development, decreased aggression, emotional modulation, social skill development, empathy, and trauma resolution, taking more responsibility for his/her behaviors, developing self-respect, respect for others, and stronger family relationships. Play therapy also develops self-efficacy, coping skills, and improves a child’s behavior in general. Children will also simply benefit from receiving emotional support and gaining a positive experience from a therapist, which will help them to develop trust in the outside world.
How does it work?
Since children often cannot verbalize what worries them, they use play to communicate at their own pace, without feeling interrogated or threatened. Using toys or puppets, drawing life scenes, creating a scene in a sand tray, telling stories, children may re-enact or play out traumatic or difficult life experiences to make sense of their past and cope better with their present, building resilience for the future. A trained therapist uses playtime to observe and gain insight into what is going on with a child and then helps him understand muddled feelings and upsetting events, and deal with unresolved trauma.
How long does play therapy last?
It is recommended that children attend 6 to 12 one-hour sessions once a week. However, when problems have persisted for a long time or are complicated, it may require a longer-term intervention. Sessions are usually held once a week and consistency in day, time, and location is very important for developing a trusting relationship. Unplanned or missed sessions may disrupt the progress. It is important to know that the behavior of a child may get worse before it becomes better. This is why it is important not to leave play therapy in the middle of the process.
