Why Play Therapy?
Some might wonder how play can be an effective tool in therapy. It is a common belief that play is not productive but that could not be further from the truth. Play is the main source for processing of information and emotions for children. Through play, your child will be able to recreate and understand any psychosocial experiences that he or she might have with toys or figures. Play therapy encourages your child to express his or her emotions through an adult validating any positive and negative emotions being exhibited. With the ability to be creative and expressive, no topic is set as “off-limits” for your child and he or she will have total freedom to take charge in the room. This allows for ultimate exploration and communication about the feelings that your child has. Benefits of play therapy include promotion of secure attachments, problem-solving skills and self-awareness, the formation of a more positive self-image and increased communication skills and ability to express emotions.
One of the primary goals of play therapy is for parents and their children to grow in healthy attachment while integrating child-centered play practices. Play allows the family system to repair any attachment “ruptures” and instead create secure attachment. This can be completed through the shift of a child’s insecure state of mind to a secure state of mind in regards to his or her family system. This often occurs during play as child-centered play practices are incorporated and children progress in their sense of security. When a parent or clinician prioritizes designated time to spend with a child in play, the child’s attachment will move to be more healthy and secure.
Play therapy encourages a child to problem-solve and become self-aware by stimulating the child with multiple choices in his or her play “world”. When a parent or therapist gives a child choices in play, they are allowing the child to make his or her own decisions. This promotes decision-making, and leadership skills. While giving choices is important, it is also essential to set limits with the child. A parent or therapist can set limits by clearly explaining simple rules in the play setting that the child must adhere to in order to avoid consequence. This promotes respect of boundaries, allowing a child to develop awareness of his or herself and their abilities.
It is important that while playing, your child has total freedom to take charge in the room so they can be creative and expressive. This exploration is extremely beneficial for a child as it promotes autonomy, creativity and emotional processing. Join in your child’s play “world” and follow their lead in play. While playing, you can join your child by tracking their behaviors, reflecting their emotions, building their self-esteem, giving them choices and setting necessary limits. This will allow the child to grow in confidence and leadership, ultimately leading to a more positive self-image.
Child-centered play therapy promotes change in children as utilizing play interventions helps to improve a child’s sense of self, thereby improving a child’s ability to communicate. This is necessary in order for the child to create positive interactional patterns with his or her family and others. Play therapy ultimately expands a child’s capacity for emotional processing and communication through giving the child the ability to identify and express avoided, primary, vulnerable emotions. Change in communication will occur when children are able to put their feelings into words, differentiate and accept competing emotions and improve their capacity for emotion regulation.
Imaginary play allows children to process information and emotions. Through imaginary play, a child will most often recreate psychosocial experiences that he or she might have with the available play resources such as toys or figures. In doing this, a clinician or a parent can encourage a child client to express his or her emotions simply by validating them. This ultimately raises the child’s awareness of emotions, allowing them to label and understand them.
It is essential for play therapy to be implemented consistently in order for the best results to be seen within your child. Try these tips and tricks at home, or pursue a therapist for your child that practices these skills. Over time, all of these ideas will become a reality, and you will see wonderful, positive change in your child and his or her behaviors.
Written by: Savannah Brasher, MS, LMFTA, CFLE-P