What is play therapy?
What does play therapy look like?
In the playroom, the child leads the way. They choose how and when to express themselves. As their therapist, my role is to build a trusting and safe relationship that allows them to explore challenging emotions and life events at their own pace.
I listen closely to what is being expressed within their play and creativity. I offer empathetic reflections and insights to help them process their feelings and gain a sense of control and understanding.
Through this process, they can begin to work towards a sense of mastery over previous difficult experiences. They begin to untangle their feelings and gain a greater sense of power and agency.
Outcomes of play therapy
“It is important me to that I understand why you have sought out play therapy and what your goals are. We can think together about what we are working towards. ”
Outcomes of play therapy vary from child to child and depend on the reason for play therapy.
However, play therapy can help with the following:
1. Improved Emotional Expression
Children learn to better understand and express their emotions, oftentimes leading to increased emotional regulation.
2. Enhanced Communication Skills
Through play, children develop better verbal and non-verbal communication skills, helping them express their needs and feelings more effectively.
3. Increased Self-Esteem
As children gain mastery over challenging emotions and situations, they often develop a stronger sense of self-worth and confidence.
4. Stronger Coping Mechanisms
Play therapy helps children develop healthy ways to cope with stress, anxiety, and difficult situations.
5. Healing from Trauma and difficult life events
For children who have experienced trauma, play therapy can support the processing of difficult experiences, promoting healing and resilience.
6. Enhanced Relationships
Play therapy can improve relationships by fostering better understanding and connection.
Overall, play therapy helps children feel more empowered and in control of their emotions and actions.
Key ideas
Children Can’t Always Use Words
Sometimes, children don’t have the words to express complicated feelings like grief, anger, or fear. Play gives them an outlet to explore and express themselves in a way that feels comfortable.
Building Trust and Safety
Children often find it easier to open up through play. By giving them control over the process, they can feel safer and more in charge, which can lead to deeper emotional exploration.
Emotional Regulation
Through play, children learn to manage and understand their emotions better. The therapist helps empower the child to recognise what they’re feeling and find more helpful ways of managing these emotions.
Fostering Healthy Development
Play therapy can also help children develop social and problem-solving skills that they can begin to apply outside of the therapy.
