Play Therapy: What is play therapy and how does it work?
Play therapy is conducted in a welcoming playroom with few restrictions, which allows children to express their emotions freely and naturally. The child psychologist or trained therapist typically has a variety of toys that kids can use to express their emotions. Additionally, play therapy can gently probe children about the toys they are playing with to uncover hidden anxieties and challenges.
In order to effectively use play therapy, the therapist must “get down on the child’s level and use the child’s language”. Play is a child’s most comfortable form of expression. Adults can articulate their thoughts, whereas most children may lack the words to express how they feel or why they behave the way they do. Play therapy sessions are designed to improve a child’s ability to form healthy and resilient relationships and navigate through traumatic experiences that may be bothering them, by providing a safe and confidential environment to solve their problems.
The toys that are chosen by kids in play therapy (and how they are used) frequently reveal information about a child’s developmental stage, family and social relationships, their challenges, and their inner world. A child might have access to trucks, action figures, dolls, masks, and costumes, as well as sand and other mainstays of fun! Puppets can also be used to allow the child to tell a story about their family.
Play therapy toolkit
A play therapy toolkit can include materials for creative expression, instrumental music, books, puppets, dolls, action figures, sand trays, and costumes.
Family play therapy
This type of play therapy is when the child, their parents, and their siblings come together in therapy for counselling sessions.
Child-based play therapy
Only the child and the therapist are present during counselling sessions in child-based play therapy. The therapist gives the child a variety of toys so they can play with them, and develop a bond with them as well. Child-based treatment is frequently used for vulnerable young people, who exhibit disruptive behaviours, and may even be depressed. According to published studies, child-centred play therapy supports academic achievement as well as addressing emotional and behavioural issues.
Group-based play therapy
Group-based play therapy is the last form of play therapy, and it sees a number of children who may be experiencing the same or a similar set of circumstances playing together. “Theraplay” is another name for this kind of play therapy, which aids kids in forming stronger bonds and attachments with others. Group theraplay is an outgrowth of individual therapy, and allows kids a means of connecting with others.
Who is play therapy for, and what are the benefits?
Children who have endured physical or emotional abuse, or who have been bullied, are candidates for play therapy. Children who have witnessed horrors like war and other atrocities have been shown to benefit from this form of therapy. Play therapy can be a secure and private way for children who are depressed or anxious to work through their issues, as well as those who are angry or have a hard time accepting change.
Applying play therapy within a family therapy framework has proven to be especially beneficial for both adults and kids, because it fosters better communication, especially during familial trauma like divorce. Moreover, play therapy gives kids the chance to generate play situations that mirror their emotional experiences, while giving the therapist and parents the opportunity to validate them, while providing emotional support that consoles the child.
The goals, frequency and duration of play therapy
This kind of therapy aims to develop the child’s creativity through play, while also giving them the freedom to speak freely about their feelings. Play therapy is most frequently used by trained therapists in a clinical setting to communicate with kids who may not want to or know how to express their feelings.
The average number of play therapy sessions is 20 per week, each lasting between 30 and 45 minutes. The therapy will be personalised for each child, based on their unique needs and the nature of their issues. The play experience along with the therapist are typically trusted by the child over time, and a positive relationship that leads to improvement develops.
Who can facilitate play therapy?
A play therapist is a licensed mental health professional who has additional training and experience in play therapy. The Association for Play Therapy, while American, has equivalent bodies in South Africa, and programs involve special training in childhood problems. Licensed mental health professionals, school counsellors, and educational psychologists with a master’s or doctoral degree are those who typically enrol in this specific training.
