PLAY THERAPY
EXPLAINED AND PREPARATION
THERAPEUTIC PLAY IN DALLAS, ALEXANDRIA, AND ATLANTA
THE NATURE OF PLAY THERAPY
Play Therapy is counseling for a child that uses play for optimal expression of thoughts, feelings, and experiences based on a child’s development. Play therapy is to children what talk therapy is to adults.
Because play is a child's most natural way to express themselves, it is easier for children to pair toys with verbalization, and to facilitate their overall expression of thoughts and feelings.
Sometimes kids do not even know how to describe or understand what they are thinking or feeling inside, so they act out or show how they feel through play.
Neurobiological research indicates and supports the importance of using play for overall health and integration of children for improved coping strategies and brain regulation.
Play Therapy can help nurture and develop a child’s brain by creating and enhancing neurosynaptic pathways, which helps to facilitate the following:
General Character Development
Self-regulation
Self-concept and Esteem Building
Development of Self-control
Development of Self-responsibility
Mastery and Cognitive Development
Development of Empathy and Social Skills
Development of Constructive Self-Expression
Social Skills
Play Therapy can also provide an outlet to help children cope with and/or overcome problems, including but not limited to the following:
Learning Difficulties
Worry and Anxiety
Defiance
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity
Sadness
Aggression
Psychosomatic complaints (e.g., stomach and headaches)
Reasons for Play Therapy?
A child may be angry, sad, confused, or displaying behaviors at home and/or school that parents and/or teachers do not understand.
A child may be struggling with appropriate self-expression, self-esteem, and self-control. A child may also be struggling with general self-regulation, which is the capacity to self-soothe when upset.
Things a Child Learns in Play Therapy?
By creating a safe expressive space paired with a nurturing therapeutic relationship, a child is often able to work on the following:
· Controlling their behavior
· Expressing needs and ideas in a more constructive way
· Making healthy decisions/ choices
· Accepting appropriate responsibility
· Fostering and developing empathy
· Enhancing Focus and Attention
· Employing Social Skills
Length of Play Therapy Services?
All children and reasons for entering into Play Therapy are unique. Just like adults in counseling, it is hard to predict how long play therapy will take for children. Your counselor will create a treatment plan and will be assessing progress.
Research does indicate two things: (1) involving family members in the process of child counseling can help and (2) that externalizing behaviors (hitting, yelling, etc.) seem to indicate change faster than internalizing behaviors (anxiety, depression, etc.).
Some children may come a few times, others a few months, and some for a year or more. Your Play Therapist will be in communication with you regarding your child’s progress in the Playroom and your report of their behavior at home/ school. Parent involvement and willingness to learn new tools and ways of responding to their child at home, enhances the therapeutic process.
How to Introduce your Child to Play Therapy?
You may tell your child they will be coming to see Miss/Mr./Mrs.(first name) in the playroom or via telehealth once a week, where there are lots of toys to play with. Be brief in your explanation, such as
“I want to have someone I trust check on our family.” or
“Things have been hard for you lately, such as paying attention at school or getting out of the car in the morning. Sometimes it’s helpful for families to go to a counselor to help learn what to do and how to feel better”.
PREPARING FOR PLAY THERAPY SESSION
How to prepare for a Play Therapy session? (Play Therapy Logistics)
· Children may be loud (and messy! in the playroom and that is normal.
· Parents will wait in the waiting room or in a separate room during the session with the child in case the session needs to end early, or your child needs help with anything such as technology or going to the bathroom.
· Dress your child in play clothes so that your child is comfortable and free to express and not worried about good clothes becoming dirty or worn. Children sometimes get messy during the play sessions from sand, art supplies, and other play modalities.
· Give your child a snack and take your child to the restroom right before.
· Try not to rush to get to the therapy appointment as this may have a competing effect on the brain.
· It is also helpful, if possible, to create a routine around coming to therapy (i.e., we go home, change clothes, eat a snack at the table, and then to go to the play therapy space).
· It is also important to be aware of when you schedule the appointment. Be sure to not schedule your appointment during something your child has to miss that is important to him/her. This can cause your child to be frustrated with coming to therapy and not gain as much benefit from therapy.
· Lastly, be confident about the therapy yourself. If your child senses you are worried or dislike something, he/she can internalize and react to this. If there is any reason you are not feeling confident about the value or process of therapy, discuss this with your therapist; this is a normal feeling and Counselors welcome such conversations to help clients become more accustomed and comfortable with the therapeutic process.
· A final termination session is advised if the parents decide to prematurely terminate therapy (to help close the process for the child in a healthy way)
How to engage my child after a Play Therapy session?
Some helpful questions and statements you can say to your child when they return from the session to show your interest and facilitate engagement could entail: “What was it like?”; Commenting on the child’s demeanor (e.g., “You look excited”); “What do you think you will do next time?”; “What was something in the room you liked?”
It is helpful to avoid asking your child if they were good in therapy. While the therapist will have boundaries, it is important that the child feels comfortable to show up as themselves in order to get the most out of therapy.
After play therapy sessions, it is important to include time in your schedule as a parent to be the person who independently cleans up the toys after your child is finished with each therapeutic play session. This will allow your child to more freely engage and benefit from the session. Your Counselor will manage this during in-person play therapy sessions.
How to get the most out of Play Therapy?
Your play therapist will be discussing things you can do at home to help the therapeutic process. Also, it is helpful that you are (1) consistent in bringing your child to therapy as recommended by the treatment plan and (2) that you are honest with the play therapist about what is occurring with your child’s behavior.
TELEHEALTH PLAY THERAPY
PREPARATION
Preparing for My Child’s Telehealth Counseling Sessions
Be sure session is happening at a time when you feel you can concentrate.
Have some paper, pencil, crayons/colored pencils/markers handy.
For younger children, have your toy kit ready.
Find a quiet place where you feel your child has privacy to express how they need.
Try to use a computer screen for the session if possible—if not other devices will work.
Before the counseling time starts, try to think about the week and how it has been for your child.
Let your child know you will start/set up the video call. Let them know you will be sharing the time with the Counselor. Also tell the child to come get you when the session is over so you can close down/end the session.
types OF TOYS FOR play THERAPY
(at least 7 or more individual toys are recommended):
Sandbox, sandbox toys
Puppets
Pretend food or play kitchenware
Easel, paint, chalkboard
Play dress up clothing
Arts and crafts
Dolls, doll house, baby doll
Cash register, play money,
Play phone
Medical kit, Bandages
Balls
Toy cars, trucks, bus, emergency vehicles, planes, boats
Toy animals
Toy soldiers, toy guns, toy knife, toy sword, toy handcuffs
Blocks
Sandtray, miniature toys
Toys to Avoid in therapy:
themed toys associated with specific characters such as in tv shows or movies
electronic games, battery operated games,
video games,
smartphones or tablets, except for the use of session