Play Therapy
Therapy with children looks a lot different than therapy with adults. Because children’s brains don’t have the developmental abilities to come to therapy and talk through their emotions and problems the way adults do, play therapy is the recommended treatment approach to working with children.
Children need to play. It is through play that children communicate their needs, process their emotions, and discover themselves.
A therapist who provides play therapy provides a safe space for the child to grow, develop, and heal by joining the child’s world of play and providing the appropriate supports and interventions when the opportunities arise. Sometimes it is even helpful for some of our adolescent clients to participate in play therapy!
At Creative Family Counseling, we use Play Therapy for:
- Anxiety, Separation Anxiety, and Panic
- Adjustment to Family Changes such as Divorce or Deployment
- Behavioral Concerns related to Aggression, Tantrums, and Defiance
- Grief and Loss
- Recovery from Trauma, Neglect, or Abandonment
- ADHD
- Sexualized Behavior
- Depression
Play Therapy can help by increasing a child’s ability to:
- Solve problems
- Learn social skills
- Express emotion
- Understand confusing experiences
- Develop emotional intelligence
- Increase confidence
- Adjust to transitions
There many forms of play and other expressive therapies provided at Creative Family Counseling. Depending on the needs of your child, sometimes the play therapy sessions are more direct (therapist-led) and sometimes they are more indirect (child-led). Creative Family Counseling has a therapy room completely dedicated to playing and other expressive therapies. We may use therapeutic toys, games, activities, art techniques, yoga, or provide sand tray therapy. If you have questions about how play therapy may benefit your child, please call Creative Family Counseling today to ask a Therapist.
