Play Therapy
Play therapy helps children to address and resolve their own problems and builds on the natural way that children learn about themselves and their relationships in the world around them. Play therapy not only makes learning fun, it makes learning possible. Play therapy lays a foundation of connection, interest and engagement, on top of which therapists can share tools, teach new ideas and introduce new ways of solving common challenges. By engaging enjoyable, fun activities that elevate the spirit and brightens the outlook on life, play therapy provides the resource and platform children need to explore the challenging issues in their lives. Introducing healing concepts through play makes it more likely that children will digest and integrate the important information they need to lead a more relaxed, enjoyable and fulfilling life for years to come.
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy refers to a large number of treatment methods, all applying the therapeutic benefits of play. The Association for Play Therapy (APT) defines play therapy as the “systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.”What does Play Therapy help?
Play therapy - along with other approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Family Therapy - helps children:- Become more responsible for their behaviors and develop more successful strategies
- Develop new and creative solutions to problems
- Develop respect and acceptance of self and others
- Learn to experience and express emotion
- Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others
- Learn new social skills and relational skills with family
- Develop self-efficacy and a better assuredness about their abilities