Play Therapy
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a form of therapy most commonly used with younger children. Since many haven’t yet learned to express their emotions or explain their problems to adults, play therapy can serve as an effective way for a therapist to observe a child’s behavior.
Through playtime, a trained therapist gains an understanding of a child’s struggles without forcing them to put their feelings into words, then can help the child understand them better. Once the issue is identified, the therapist can then help the child work through their emotions and explore potential coping mechanisms for the future.
When is Play Therapy used?
Generally, play therapy is used with children ages 3-12, although people of any age can benefit depending on their situation. Situations like aggressive behaviors, struggles at school, family complications such as loss or divorce, traumatic events and anxiety often benefit from play therapy, and children in these positions respond to this treatment.
Benefits of Play Therapy
Often, play therapy can yield the following results in your child:
- Taking more responsibility for their actions
- An increase in self-expression and respect
- Heightened social skills
- Developed coping strategies
- Stronger relationships with family and friends
- Relief from stress and anxiety
- Creative thinking and problem-solving
- More confidence and concentration