Therapeutic Play
Play is the language of children.
This includes your inner child.
Play serves as an essential form of communication for young children. Through their imaginative and creative play, they explore different kinds of feelings and experiences, and express themselves in ways that are impossible through verbal language. It allows them to use objects and gestures to create their own story and language, which helps them understand complex emotions better. Play also provides the opportunity to learn new things, practice making decisions, negotiating, resolving conflicts, confide in others and make friendships with other children. As a result, it can be seen as a powerful way for children to engage in self-expression while building important communication skills.
Play-based therapy is an effective means of helping those who struggle to communicate and express their feelings in more traditional, verbally-oriented settings. It is increasingly being utilized by psychologists, social workers, counselors, and other mental health professionals as a way to help individuals explore and process their emotions more effectively and efficiently. During play-based sessions, clients are encouraged to creatively use toys, dolls, drawing materials, arts and crafts supplies, sensory items, and other objects in order to express themselves without the pressure of verbal communication. The creative nature of play has been shown to provide a safe space for psychological exploration which can often result in improved emotional regulation skills as well as an increased understanding of one’s self and relationships with others.
FOR ALL AGES
Play based therapy works by allowing children to express and explore emotions, build relationships, and act out events without the pressure of verbalizing their feelings in a more typical clinical setting. The age range that can benefit from this type of therapy is broad, as it has been found to effectively help children as young as toddlers all the way through teenagers. It is especially useful for younger children who may not be fully capable of expressing themselves verbally but can still gain insight through play. Additionally, with teens in particular, it can provide an opportunity for them to discuss difficult topics such as family dynamics or even their own mental health with the guidance of a therapist that feels less like a traditional interview. Thus, play based therapy can prove to be beneficial across any stage of childhood development.
THE INNER CHILD
Play-based therapy can provide adults with a tool to help them address and cope with their personal issues. It is based on the idea that an individual’s inner child holds memories, thoughts, and feelings related to the experiences of adult life which can affect decision-making and lifestyle choices in the present. Through play-based therapy an individual can reassess emotions from childhood in order to recognize patterns that are now having a negative impact and make conscious decisions to change these patterns as an adult. Play-based therapy can include activities such as journaling, creative writing, art expression, group work, and sand tray work; it allows individuals to relearn healthy coping skills needed for daily life by engaging their emotions through more playful activities.
RELEARNING PLAY FOR YOUR OWN CHILDREN
Parenting is a unique responsibility and experience, yet unfortunately, many parents have lost play with the right skills to provide meaningful experiences for their children. The most important tool a parent has is spending time with their kids, learning how to play with them. Doing so can have positive benefits on the mental development of a child. Studies have shown that intentional, active play strengthens family relationships while providing opportunities to teach important values. As a result, parents should learn how to play with their children by finding games that all members of the family find fun and enjoyable. Whether it be board games or outdoor sports – what matters is enjoying the moment together and supporting each other as you explore different activities!
SPECIALIZATIONS
THERAPLAY INSPIRED
Theraplay is a unique and effective therapy approach that focuses on enhancing parent-child relationships and addressing various concerns. With its evidence-based techniques, Theraplay aims to promote competence, self-regulation, and attachment between parents and children. Theraplay sessions are conducted by a Theraplay Foundational Practitioner who specialize in complex trauma, grief, attachment, and other related areas. The therapy can involve physical, occupational, speech, and feeding therapy, as well as play-based interactions that help children develop and thrive. Theraplay offers a comprehensive approach to improving parent-child relationships and supporting children’s overall development and well-being.
SANDPLAY THERAPY
Sandplay therapy is an effective, visual therapeutic form which can be used to explore thoughts and feelings that may be difficult for the client to put into words. Developed by Dora M. Kalff over 60 years ago, this modality utilizes sand trays filled with figurines and other miniatures of animals, people, plants and items from everyday life as a medium for clients to express their cognition and emotions in a thoughtful, symbolic manner. It is non-directive and based on the belief that, through play or unconsciously directed action, true resolution of problems will come within the creative process itself. This psychotherapeutic tool often leads to insight gained in deeper ways than traditional talk therapy can offer while allowing greater access to the unconscious mind.
