Play Therapy

What is Play Therapy? Play therapy uses play in a therapeutic way to resolve behavioral and emotional challenges.

Why is Play Therapy Helpful?

 It uses the child’s natural language of play.

●     Therapists can use play to communicate with children and teach new skills.

●     Play is naturally used by children to learn and master new skills as well as resolve conflicts.

●     Play serves as a metaphor for a child’s life.

●     Play Therapy allows new information and skills to be taken in more readily.

●     Play therapy promotes self-efficacy and enhances self-esteem.

Who Can Benefit From Play Therapy?

Play therapy is especially beneficial for children aged 3-12, however, the use of play in therapy can be beneficial to individuals at a variety of developmental stages. 

We utilize play therapy which enables and empowers children to express what is bothering them when they do not have the words or verbal ability to adequately express thoughts and feelings. Play-based and creative, expressive therapy affords children, their parents and siblings an opportunity to connect in ways that enrich family relationships. Playful and purposeful interventions help families come together in ways that promote growth and healing.

Through play, children are able to work through what is troubling them. We are able to help children learn healthier and more adaptive behaviors.

The relationship that develops between a child and  therapist during play and creative therapy sessions provide reparative emotional experiences lending to healing and strengthening the child’s sense of self. In support of a child’s growth and healing in play therapy, we work very closely with parents and often other family members in order to facilitate positive shifts in the parent-child relationships and the whole family dynamic. Sometimes it is appropriate for us to use a very particular approach called child-centered play therapy and sometimes children benefit from more directive play therapy methods.