I LOVE Play Therapy! I really do. Having observed its ability to transform little lives I think it should be compulsory for everyone. Adults too!
I’m often asked what is it? How does it work? And What do I actually do? So I thought I would put together a series of blogs to answer these very questions, beginning with:
What Is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is a gentle and effective intervention for young children (up to age 10) who may be struggling emotionally. Play is the natural language of children, and while they may not be fully able to talk about their feelings, we can often gain an insight into their inner world through observing their play.
Parents may consider Play Therapy for their children for a wide variety of reasons. Perhaps they are feeling anxious or having recurrent nightmares. They may be being bullied or coming to terms with the loss of someone close to them. Other children may be finding activities such as going to school very stressful. Some children express their emotional hurt by becoming sad and withdrawn while others may develop challenging and difficult behaviour. Either way, the strain on family life can become unbearable.
Typically, Play Therapy is offered at a school or at a Therapy Centre. Sessions last for up to an hour and children usually attend for a minimum of 12 sessions, once per week. Many Play Therapists (myself included) adopt a non-directive approach. This means that the child is free to choose what to play with and how they will play with it. Typically, a Play Therapist will have a range of items in their tool kit including art materials, clay, puppets, sand, dolls, dressing up costumes, musical instruments and movement props such as scarves and lycra. The child is free to express themselves however they choose, and the Therapist maintains a safe and supportive presence.
In this environment, children will typically spend a few weeks ‘sussing me out’, and once they feel comfortable, will gradually go deeper and deeper into their play. I maintain an absolute trust in the child’s ability to process their difficulty in the way that is meaningful to them, and I am continually inspired by the ability of children to find solutions to their problems. For example, a child who is being bullied may use the puppets to act out being the aggressor, to see how that feels. As a result of gaining a new perspective they may feel more empowered. A child who has experienced a traumatic event may play out alternative endings or take on the role of a superhero to feel more in control.
In my next blog, I will look at the role of the Therapist in a little more detail and how we work to support children to find solutions to their problems. In the meantime, if this article has prompted you to think that Play Therapy may be appropriate for your child, then please get in touch.
Jacqui