What Actually Happens in Play Therapy?

As a parent, you might wonder what actually happens in play therapy. I’ve often been asked by parents: “Will my kid really just play?” A fair question, considering a parent carries the burden of bringing their child to therapy, possibly also participating in the session or patiently waiting. Play seems to be indulgent and something kids do all the time already. How can it be therapeutic?

Play is the language of children. The younger a child, the less likely they are to want to sit down and have a conversation with you. Talking can be intimidating or boring for children and they might not know the right words to express themselves. If you’ve ever spoken to a 6-year-old on the phone and asked them what’s going on in their lives, you’ll likely have heard something concrete like: “I am talking to you right now”. Inquiring about school or how they are doing might get you a “fine” or no answer at all.

You get the idea. As play is the language of children, it’s the most promising avenue to help a child deal with stressful events and express themselves. Children have an innate ability to process their experiences when they play. Their developing brains take this opportunity to make sense of and integrate information, and to work through problems.

To quote Mr. Rogers, from Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood: “Play is often talked about as if it were relief from serious learning, but for children, play is serious learning”. And Maria Montessori, creator of the philosophy behind the Montessori School, called play the work of the child.

But I think what most parents really want to know is: What is the difference between regular play and play therapy?

During play therapy, a mental health professional with special training engages in non-directive or directive play with a child. In non-directive play therapy, the child chooses the toys and the therapist observes and possibly narrates what the child is doing. The therapist will only engage if invited by the child or to prevent harm.

In directive play therapy, the therapist chooses the toys, or provides limited toy options to choose from, and engages directly with the child. The therapist presents interventions to guide a youth’s treatment toward a goal. Many play therapists practice integrated play therapy which blends non-directive and directive play therapy theories which blends the approaches to meet child’s goals.

In play therapy, the goal is to identify, address and resolve conflict in the child’s life, by providing a safe environment for the child to communicate and process what’s going on inside their hearts and minds.

Play therapy includes a child’s parent(s) in the treatment process as parents/caregivers are an important part of a child’s therapy. Sometimes parent(s) will join a child in the playroom and periodically parent(s) will have separate meetings with the therapist to work on strategies. A play therapist might direct a parent on how to interact with their child during play to help achieve specific goals, for example, to create a stronger bond between child and parent or to establish healthier boundaries.

• February 2-8, 2020 is National Play Therapy Week, and as the Association for Play Therapy highlights: “There is more evidence now than ever that play therapy is improving children’s mental health and overall well-being”.
• #PlayTherapyWeek2020

Please contact Therapy2Thrive at (925) 426 1575 if you’d like to learn more about how play therapy could benefit your child.

Natascha Thomson, AMFT, APCC, Registered Associate Marriage & Family Therapist, #117433, Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor, #7206, Supervised by Leslie Baker, LMFT #28252