What is Play Therapy?

 

Play therapy provides children a non-threatening, play centered environment where they feel heard, understood, supported and validated.  During a play therapy session the counselor invites the child to explore the playroom and utilize various toys and activities while providing a consistant structure of support. A playroom usually includes nurturing, dramatic, and expressive toys, as well as books, games and crafts for a child to play with. These toys are carefully selected to provide children a medium to express through play, what is often difficult to express with words.

 

Play therapy is an effective way of working with children as play provides a natural way for children to express and explore their thoughts, feelings and worries.  Children feel more comfortable using toys and play to communicate conscious and subconscious feelings, rather than talking about them like adults do. Children play out underlying feelings or

re-enact stressful situations to gain mastery over what they may feel powerless to change or alter in their lives.  It is amazing to witness a child’s resilience as they connect to their inner strength and resourcefulness, uncover solutions to their problems, and regain a sense of control in their lives.

 

Play therapy can provide children a safe and effective outlet to process and work through difficult experiences, feelings, and memories impacting their lives. This creative process provides tremendous relief and validation for a child which often leads to a decrease in 

problematic behaviours, increase in self-esteem, and improvements in all aspects of a 

child’s life.

 

Play therapy has been found to be effective for children and youth experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, and behavioral problems, as well those impacted by traumatic and stressful experiences in their lives. A key aspect of the play therapy counselling process is the safe and trusting relationship that develops over time between the child and counselor, cornerstone to the therapeutic process. 

 

For more infomation on the benefits of Play Therapy, please visit :

 

• Association for Play Therapy

• BC Play Therapy Association

• Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy

 

 

 

"Play is the highest form of research"  

Albert Einstein