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Everything you need to know about Play Therapy
WHAT IS PLAY THERAPY?
Play Therapy provides the child with an opportunity to express their thoughts, emotions and desires, as well as to process their experiences through the medium of play, while using a range of creative tools.
Play Therapy is a psychological based therapy used to help children between the ages of 3 and 12, making use of a variety of play and creative arts techniques to alleviate chronic, mild and moderate psychological and emotional conditions in children. It is based on the therapeutic value of play and the benefits that play has on the emotional, social, cognitive, physical, language and creative development of the child.
WHY IS IT EFFECTIVE?
Play Therapy is considered to be one of the most effective ways to help children experiencing social, emotional and behavioural challenges.
Play is a child’s natural medium of expression as they have not yet developed the vocabulary or verbal skills to express themselves effectively through words at this stage in their development. This makes it necessary, when dealing with children, to meet them where they are, at their level of communication, by using the medium of play. Play Therapy enables them to express their thoughts and emotions freely, in a way that they cannot do verbally.
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF PLAY THERAPY?
The goal is to help the child learn positive, healthy and effective ways/methods to express themselves and to solve problems. Play Therapy aims to facilitate healing and personal growth to help the child realise their potential, teaching them skills that will help them cope better with their future.
Playing out their thoughts, emotions and experiences helps the child to make sense of them, process them and come to resolutions.
WHAT DO PLAY THERAPY SESSIONS LOOK LIKE?
Play Therapy sessions usually take place weekly with one 35-40 minute session each week on the same day, at the same time and at the same place. This consistency is necessary for the development of a trusting relationship.
During the sessions, children are supported and encouraged to express themselves freely, communicate and exlpore aspects of themselves and their lives symbolically through play, stories and metaphor. The therapist provides a comfortable, safe, non-judgemental and fully accepting space in which the child can communicate at their own level and at their own pace without feeling interrogated or threatened.