Play therapy: what is it and how can it benefit
During development, children experience a lot of new emotions, which are usually hard to understand, handle or expressed by them. In some cases, even for us adults, putting emotions into words can be difficult - let alone for a child whose brain is still underdeveloped, and the understanding of the complexity of emotions is still emerging. Play therapy helps children express their emotions when they struggle to do so in a healthy and sustainable manner.
What is play therapy?
As the word itself implies, play therapy is a form of therapy where the child plays with toys. In essence there are two types of play therapy: directive and non-directive. Directive play therapy is when the therapist introduces the toys or games that will be used in the session - a more guided form of play. Non-directive on the other hand, is when the session is free-flowing and the child gets to choose the type of play they will follow. In both cases the child spends the session in a designated playroom exposed to a variety of different games and toys. The psychologist observes, interprets, and analyses the child’s behaviour. Furthermore, a therapist is trained to look for conflicts, or difficulties that may come to the surface through games.
How does play therapy work?
The best way to understand how play therapy works is through examples. Games used in therapy range from dolls and puppets, to art, Legos, and hide-and-seek, or board and card games. In the case where the session is directive, the therapist may focus on specific games that might benefit the child’s specific difficulties and situation. For example, if there are known problems at home, the therapist might ask the child to demonstrate, using puppets, a few problems they experience at home. Or the therapist might use a more general approach - such as asking the child to create a story starting with the phrase “once upon a time…”; this gives an open space for both imagination and experiences to appear.
Who is play therapy for?
Play therapy can benefit children that have a hard time expressing their emotions, or children with learning difficulties and behavioural challenges. It can be specifically helpful to children with:
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Anxiety disorders
Sexual, physical, emotional abuse
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)
Depression
Developmental/learning difficulties
Aggressive/problem behaviours at school
Eating and toileting disorders
A play therapist may choose to also include members of the family at some stage in one or more sessions. This starts with a guided approach, where the parent follows the guidance of the psychologist, and may slowly start playing independently with their child using specific learned techniques. Play therapy sessions including one or both parents - where the aim of therapy allows it - has proven helpful in strengthening family bonds, increasing understanding of each other and potentially resolving relationship issues.
Play therapy may help a child in a variety of ways ranging from improvement in social interactions, better understanding and expression of emotions, improved behaviour, and reduced effects of trauma or anxiety.
You can read more about cognitive behavioural therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, reframing as a mental health hack, an alternative therapy tool, myths about counselling in these blog posts.