Play Therapy and Family Play

Both parents and professionals are surprised by the effectiveness of Play Therapy. Sometimes it is helpful to be reminded why this method of treatment is chosen for helping children with problems.

Play Therapy is the chosen intervention for children between the ages of 3 and 11, because children have difficulty talking about their feelings when their behavior is a problem for others. Can you imagine talking about or describing your most embarrassing, shameful, and fearful experiences with a complete stranger? That is much like asking a child to participate in adult psychotherapy. Play Therapy is called therapy because it is safe, healing, and promotes healthy outcomes. It is called play because it is voluntary and it is free from evaluation and judgment by adults. Play encourages fantasy and the use of imagination. It increases interest and involvement. Play encourages the development of the physical and mental self.

Children between the ages of 3 and 11 have the same feelings of fear, satisfaction, anger, happiness, frustration, and contentment as adults. However, children at times do not have the capacity to connect what they feel with how they behave. In the case of illness or trauma, a child may "misplace" feelings and this may disturb his or her relationships or behavior. Sometimes the disturbance causes problems in learning, and can affect relationships in later years.

In Play Therapy the relationship between the child and the therapist is dynamic and interpersonal. It is primarily a child-centered process, with the therapeutic dynamics determined and orchestrated by the child. Therapy is non-intrusive and safe because the child takes the lead, while the therapist remains active and engaged. Since few children refer themselves to therapy and are thus compelled to participate in a process that can be anxiety provoking, the play therapist must facilitate the development of a safe relationship. Play Therapy provides the opportunity for the child to express and explore their feelings more fully. The responses of the counselor become the key element in their process. Play, including the reflection of both content and feeling during the counseling session, is tracked, acknowledged, and validated by the therapist.

Play Therapy has the power not only to facilitate normal growth and development, but also is the catalyst to alleviate abnormal behavior. As children heal, parents may or may not notice a change in their child's demeanor and/or behavior. Therapy is a process and may take longer or shorter than expected. Most play therapists require at least four sessions to develop a comfort zone and the rapport that will facilitate professional assessment. It is helpful at that time for the therapist to meet with both parents to share observations and to make decisions about proceeding in the process. Although children may have an opinion about how they feel about seeing a therapist, it should be presented that it is just like going to the doctor for a physical problem. It is helpful to the therapeutic process if the child is aware that, even though they make choices during the therapy session, they do not have a choice about being there.

As your child becomes more accustomed to play in the therapy session, there will be more progress in healing. As healing occurs, it is ideal for parents to become involved. Since the family is the most important environment to the child, the family can eventually take over the therapeutic relationship and become a part of the solution to the child's problem.

More information about this process is available. Send your inquiries to isaiahsplace@isaiahfoundation.org