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Overview of Play Therapy

Children generally have a hard time expressing their emotions or problems. They typically don’t have the knowledge or experience on how to communicate a problem. That’s why one of the best forms of therapy for children is play therapy, which is a technique that is used with children ages 3 to 11. It is a form of psychotherapy or counseling that lets a child play or act out what is bothering them. Playing in general is essential to child development, which makes play therapy a natural way to provide therapy for children.

Play therapy is used for the following reasons:

• Allows children to express their feelings, and to accept themselves and others

• Helps a child move toward better social integration, growth and development

• To determine the cause of a disturbed behavior

What happens during play therapy?

The child plays with toys while the therapist observes how the child interacts with the toys. The therapist looks for patterns of play in order to determine the root of the problem. The therapist also asks the child questions in order for the child to feel comfortable with the therapist. Questions are also used to draw out the root of the problem.

There are many reasons parents bring their children for play therapy, here are a few:

• Divorce

• Sibling rivalry

• Bed wetting

• Aggressiveness

• Social underdevelopment

• Child abuse

• Anxiety

• Emotional turmoil

If a child is displaying signs of emotional issues, make an appointment with a therapist who is trained in play therapy.