So you’ve found a play therapist for your child and scheduled your first appointment. You have no idea what to expect – what is play therapy, anyway, and how is it going to help your child work through what they’re struggling with? You want to help make sure your kid is getting all they can out of play therapy, but you’re not sure what you can do to make that happen. If any of this sounds like you, great! This blog will be a helpful introduction to play therapy – with what you need to know as a parent.
1. What is play therapy?
Play therapy is a type of therapy where a therapist uses play, toys, and games to help the child explore, express, and safely experience the difficulties they are working through. Using play, the therapist uncovers insights otherwise unable to be heard and recognized through normal dialogue. Kids explore for understanding physically, so play therapy is the most developmentally-appropriate way to approach child therapy. It allows the therapist to meet the child at their level, helping with cognitive, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Play therapy is a safe arena for a therapist to witness the solutions the child attempts during play. The goal of play therapy is to help children behave more adaptively and learn new ways to solve problems or process past trauma. Play therapy’s effectiveness as a mental health approach is supported by empirical psychological research. Play therapists are rigorously trained through a certification process that ensures a competent use of play as a healing agent.
2. How does play therapy work?
Play therapy’s focus on relationships and experience creates positive changes in the brain. While kids explore their concerns, the therapeutic relationship helps regulate their emotions, which permits the brain to make structural changes. These changes lead to better understanding and more adaptive behaviors.
The brain is plastic – meaning that it’s constantly changing. Disconfirming experiences (experiences which do not match what was expected from the body) open our brain synapses to new learning. Brain circuits are open to being rewired when confronted with a disconfirming experience while the body is in a regulated emotional state. For example, say Billy has always experienced physical symptoms of anxiety when he’s talking about a traumatic experience. Using play, Billy can work through his traumatic experience without feeling the same symptoms of anxiety because he’s feeling different physical sensations through play. Billy’s brain can now rewire to have a new understanding of anxiety, especially with repeated sessions that cement his learning.
3. What can I expect when I bring my child into play therapy for the first time?
You and your child will meet with the play therapist to gather general information at an intake session. Play therapy sessions occur every week and are generally 60 minutes long. In session, your child will play and have fun. Not every session will be fun, but many will be. You will usually not be part of the session unless you want to consult with the therapist beforehand or afterwards.
4. How can I help my child be successful in play therapy?
Honor your child’s process in play therapy – in your child’s time. The process of therapy is generally slower for children than it is for adults. Play therapy is an evidence-based therapy, but like all therapy, kids often get worse before they get better. Encourage your child without putting pressure on how therapy is going. Asking them questions after their play therapy sessions can make children feel like they have to go to play therapy with the goal of “good” things to report to their parent(s), which disrupts the point of imaginative play as a stress-relieving activity.
Sessions can be triggering because your child will be processing previous traumatic experiences or working through current problems. Be sure to give your child some downtime to decompress after play therapy. Let them know that it’s okay for them to need space and provide time for distracting activities. While it may be frustrating to be hands-off about play therapy, it helps with the child’s healing process to experience play therapy without parental expectations.
5. What will the play therapist do to check in with me about my child’s progress?
The play therapist won’t be telling you everything that happens in the playroom to respect the child’s process. In other words, you won’t get a play-by-play description of everything your child did and said in the session because it wouldn’t really be helpful to your child or use your time effectively. However, play therapists will talk about themes & patterns seen in the play room – and use these themes and patterns to help you learn new ways of working through your child’s behavior, motivations, and emotions. For example, say that Lydia consistently creates play narratives about a little girl who feels bullied – the play therapist might work through why Lydia keeps bringing up this narrative. Then, they would communicate with you about this pattern, behaviors that might be arising out of it, and how to help Lydia.
Remember that you can always talk to your child’s therapist if you want additional information or aren’t sure how something is working. Play therapists are here to help and are happy to talk through the process with you! Meanwhile, check out the resources below if you want more info about play therapy:
https://www.a4pt.org/page/PTMakesADifference/Play-Therapy-Makes-a-Difference.htm
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/play-therapy
http://playtherapy.org/Helping-Children/About-Play-Therapy
https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/types/play-therapy
References:
Crenshaw, D. A., & Stewart, A. L. (2016). Play therapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and
Practice.
Kestly, T. A. (2014). The Interpersonal Neurobiology of Play: Brain-Building Interventions for
Emotional Well-being.
Kottman, T. (2011). Play Therapy: Basics and Beyond.
Landreth, G. L. (2012). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship.
As adults, when we have emotional issues or mental health problems, we are often able to recognize that something is out of sorts; sometimes, we are even able to share our emotions with others. But with children – particularly those who are very young – this may not be possible. Some children may be unable to express themselves verbally, some may be shy, and some others may not be very comfortable with sharing their problems. It is then more effective to use play, a medium that comes very naturally to the child, to explore their issues.
Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses play to help children deal with emotional and mental health issues. By using play as the medium, children are able to explore their feelings and share them with the therapist or the parents.
What is play therapy?
Play therapy is a form of therapy used primarily for children. That’s because children may not be able to process their own emotions or articulate problems to parents or other adults.
While it may look like an ordinary playtime, play therapy can be much more than that.
A trained therapist can use playtime to observe and gain insights into a child’s problems. The therapist can then help the child explore emotions and deal with unresolved trauma. Through play, children can learn new coping mechanisms and how to redirect inappropriate behaviors.
Play therapy is practiced by a variety of licensed mental health professionals, like psychologists and psychiatrists. It’s also practiced by behavioral and occupational therapists, physical therapists, and social workers.
In addition, the Association for Play Therapy offers specialized training programs and advanced credentials for licensed mental health professionals, school counselors, and school psychologists.
Benefits of play therapy
According to the professional organization Play Therapy International, up to 71 percent of children referred to play therapy may experience positive change.
While some children might start off with some hesitation, trust in the therapist tends to grow. As they become more comfortable and their bond strengthens, the child may become more creative or more verbal in their play.
Some of the potential benefits of play therapy are:
- taking more responsibility for certain behaviors
- developing coping strategies and creative problem-solving skills
- self-respect
- empathy and respect for others
- alleviation of anxiety
- learning to fully experience and express feelings
- stronger social skills
- stronger family relationships
Play therapy can also encourage use of language or improve fine and gross motor skills.
If your child has a diagnosed mental or physical illness, play therapy doesn’t replace medications or any other necessary treatments. Play therapy can be used alone or alongside other therapies.
How does play therapy work?
There’s a bit of a communication gap between children and adults. Depending on age and stage of development, children simply don’t have the language skills of adults. They may feel something, but in many cases, they either can’t express it to an adult or don’t have a trusted adult to express it to.
On the other end, adults can misinterpret or completely miss the child’s verbal and nonverbal cues.
Children learn to understand the world and their place in it through play. It’s where they’re free to act out their inner feelings and deepest emotions. Toys can act as symbols and take on greater meaning — if you know what to look for.
Since the child can’t adequately express themselves in the adult world, the therapist joins the child in their world, on their level.
As they play, the child may become less guarded and more apt to share their feelings. But they aren’t pressured. They’re allowed to do so in their own time and with their own method of communication.
Play therapy will differ depending on the therapist and the particular needs of the child. To begin, the therapist may want to observe the child at play. They may also want to conduct separate interviews with the child, parents, or teachers.
After a thorough assessment, the therapist will set some therapeutic goals, decide on what limits may be necessary, and formulate a plan for how to proceed.
Play therapists pay close attention to how a child handles being separated from the parent, how they play alone, and how they react when the parent returns.
Much can be revealed in how a child interacts with different types of toys and how their behavior changes from session to session. They may use play to act out fears and anxieties, as a soothing mechanism, or to heal and problem-solve.
Play therapists use these observations as a guide to the next steps. Each child is different, so therapy will be tailored to their individual needs. As therapy progresses, behaviors and goals can be reassessed.
At some point, the therapist may bring parents, siblings, or other family members into play therapy. This is known as filial therapy. It can help teach conflict resolution, promote healing, and improve family dynamics.
Play therapy techniques
Sessions typically last 30 minutes to an hour and are held once a week or so. How many sessions are needed depends on the child and how well they respond to this type of therapy. Therapy can take place individually or in groups.
Play therapy can be directive or nondirective. In the directive approach, the therapist will take the lead by specifying the toys or games that’ll be used in the session. The therapist will guide the play with a specific goal in mind.
The nondirective approach is less structured. The child is able to choose toys and games as they see fit. They’re free to play in their own way with few instructions or interruptions. The therapist will observe closely and participate as appropriate.
Sessions must take place in an environment where the child feels safe and where there are few limitations. The therapist may use techniques that involve:
- creative visualization
- storytelling
- role-playing
- toy phones
- puppets, stuffed animals, and masks
- dolls, action figures
- arts and crafts
- water and sand play
- blocks and construction toys
- dance and creative movement
- musical play
Examples of play therapy
Depending on the child and the situation, the therapist will either guide the child toward certain methods of play or let them choose for themselves. There are any number of ways the therapist can use play therapy to get to know the child and help them cope with their problems.
For example, the therapist might offer the child a dollhouse and some dolls, asking them to act out some problems they have at home. Or they might encourage the child to use hand puppets to recreate something they found stressful or frightening.
They might ask your child to tell a “once upon a time” story to see what the child might bring to light. Or they might read stories that solve a problem similar to your child’s. This is referred to as bibliotherapy.
It could be as simple as asking questions while your child is drawing or painting to try to gain insights into their thought process. Or play various games with the child to encourage problem-solving, cooperation, and social skills.
Play therapy for adults
Play isn’t just for kids, and neither is play therapy. Teenagers and adults can also have a difficult time expressing their innermost feelings in words. Adults who may benefit from play therapy include those affected by:
- intellectual disabilities
- dementia
- chronic illness, palliative care, and hospice care
- substance use
- trauma and physical abuse
- anger management issues
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- unresolved childhood issues
When working with adults, a therapist may use dramatic role-playing or sand-tray therapy to help you get in touch with feelings that are hard to talk about. These therapies can help you work on strategies for dealing with particular scenarios.
The very act of playing, whether it’s games, arts and crafts, or music and dance, can help you relax and unwind from the stresses of everyday life.
Art therapy, music therapy, and movement can help reveal hidden traumas and promote healing. Under the guidance of an experienced therapist, play can be a valuable tool in getting you where you want to be.
Play therapy for adults may be used as a complement to other types of therapy and medications. As with children, the therapist will tailor play therapy to your specific needs.
Takeaway
Play therapy is a method of therapy that uses play to uncover and deal with psychological issues. It can be used on its own, particularly with children, or along with other therapies and medications.
To get the most out of play therapy, look for a licensed mental health professional experienced in this type of therapy. Your pediatrician or primary care doctor can make a referral.
If you don’t already have a mental health professional, the Healthline FindCare tool can help you find one in your area.
You may also choose to search for a credentialed registered play therapist (RPT) or registered play therapist-supervisor (RPT-S) through the Association for Play Therapy.
