guest blog post: play therapy: who, what, when, where, why?

What is play therapy? 

Play therapy is an evidenced-based therapeutic process that supports and improves children’s mental health. Play, the natural language of children, is central to processing feelings, experiences, and healthy development. Research has found play therapy to be effective regardless of age, gender, or nature of the problem (i.e. grief, behavior challenges, trauma, anxiety, life transitions/changes, and more), with best results if a caretaker is actively involved in the play therapy process.

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." 

Is play therapy the same thing as playing with my child? 

The short answer: not exactly. Play has a variety of natural benefits such as fostering attachment, building imagination and creativity, and encouraging physical and cognitive development. These benefits come from spontaneous play at home between you and your child! 

Play therapy is provided by licensed mental health professionals who have received specialized training that provides a framework for assessing and understanding play and its therapeutic powers. The play that happens in play therapy sessions can range from expressions of anxieties, meaning-making of confusing events, and practicing how to handle challenging situations, to name a few. 

In client centered play therapy, the child is invited into the playroom to play with the toys in a variety of ways as they wish. Limits are set on an as needed basis and are done in a way that allows for balancing expressive freedom within safety and limitations. Ultimately, this allows for free expression in which the child works through tough problems.

In a prescriptive play therapy session, the therapist prepares an activity based on the presenting problem to complete with the child in session. These activities may involved: sand play, art, board games, puppets, and other various forms of expression. Half the session is spent engaging in the activity, and the other half spent in client centered play.

Who practices play therapy?

The practice of play therapy requires a Master's or Doctorate degree in a mental health field plus considerable general clinical experience and supervision. With specialized training, experience, and supervision, mental health professionals may earn the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) or Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor (RPT-S) credentials conferred by the Association for Play Therapy (APT), and at that point may call themselves Play Therapists.

What are the benefits of play therapy?

• Become more responsible for 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 thus a better assuredness about their abilities.

When does a child need therapy?

Some children need more help than others to get through tough times such as: a stressful event, trouble making friends, or adjusting to changes at school or home. Due to the stress of growing older, all children, from time to time exhibit, what adults may call “abnormal behavior.” When a child exhibits the same abnormal behavior over an extended period of time or when a child exhibits several abnormal behaviors at once, it is time to seek help. The first step is to have the child evaluated by a Physician to rule out any medical conditions. If there is no indication of a physical or medical cause, therapy should be the next step.

I want to start play therapy sessions for my child.. Where do I begin with telling them?

Great question! There can be a lot of uncertainty in how to approach this initial conversation. Here’s a brief example of how to discuss who the play therapist is, what when and where this all happens, and the purpose of it all. 

Start with an age appropriate acknowledgement of the problems you are noticing and this is another way to support them through it. It's important to say they will start having special play time with a new person in a playroom (in COVID-19 times, explain this special playtime has to happen over the computer/screen at home) and that this will happen once a week.  This new special person is someone who they can play with in many of the ways they would like, and that this special person understands play almost as much as they do! It is also important for children to know that sometimes you and this special person will talk so that everyone knows how to help and support them better. 

Want more information on why to choose play therapy for your child? 

The Association for Play Therapy website is full of information on play therapy, play therapy research, and parenting resources.