What is Play Therapy?
Play is the natural language and work of children. It is the way children resolve problems. Play Therapy is an evidenced-based treatment approach that allows children to explore thoughts and feelings, working through conflicts. The use of play allows trained professionals to better understand children and helps them achieve optimal mental health.
In the world of play therapy, it is often said that "Toys are used like words by children, and play is their language" (Landreth, 2002, p. 16). Children explore, experience, and engage the world around them through play. In order to truly understand a child's world, we must be willing to enter into it, utilizing and learning their language.
How Play Therapy Works
Play therapy allows children to act out their experiences in a safe environment while working through emotional and behavioral challenges. Play Therapy is an effective approach for children who experience the following:
- ADD/ADHD
- Anxiety
- Autism
- Depression
- Disruptive Behaviors
- Grief/Loss
- Low Self-Esteem
- Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviors
- Lack of Social Skills / Boundaries
- Trauma/PTSD