”You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”
– Plato
What is Play therapy?
Play therapy refers to a wide variety of treatment methods, all of which incorporate the use of play. It is based on the belief that play is an essential part of people’s lives and critical to healthy development.
Play is the language of children. Play is the language of consciousness. For children, play is a natural method of learning, development and expression of feelings, thoughts and concerns.
Play therapy helps children understand muddled feelings and upsetting events that they haven’t had the chance to sort out properly.
Through play, children can learn about their own capabilities and limitations, social rules, the difference between fantasy and reality, rehearse new skills and come to master challenging and difficult situations. Play helps children find words for their experiences so that they can be understood by their peers and the adults in their lives. In play therapy, children can “play out” their problems or concerns at a safe psychological distance so they do not have to play it out the world. Play therapy allows children to express themselves in a manner that is ideally suited to their developmental level.
Benefits of Play Therapy:
Research supports the effectiveness of Play therapy with children who are experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioural, and learning problems, including: anxiety/fearfulness, aggression, depression, ASD, ADHD, impulsivity, low-self esteem, social withdrawal, and post-traumatic stress.
Play therapy has been effective with children whose problems are related to life stressors, such as divorce, death, relocation, hospitalisation, invasive medical procedures, chronic illness in self or family, domestic violence and natural disasters.
How can Play Therapy help children?
Play Therapy can help children:
- Take responsibility for their behaviour
- Come to understand the impact (cause and effect) of their behaviours
- Replace inappropriate behaviours with more effective and successful behaviours
- Develop creative and lasting solutions to problems
- Gain greater acceptance of self and others
- Improve social skills
Get in Touch
Play Therapy Solutions
Carmen Nel
Email: carmen.nel@hotmail.co.uk
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