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.

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Benefits of play therapy

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.

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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

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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 and other techniques.

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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.

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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.