Play Therapy is a type of Psychotherapy mainly used with children. That may include playing with toys, acting out scenarios, and playing games. Play is the ideal way for children to learn and communicate because they may not yet have the verbal language to express their emotions and experiences. Play therapy works so well because children naturally express themselves through play and make sense of the environment. Therapists observe a patient play to find out more about their behaviour.
Play therapy can be helpful for treating behavioural issues or mental health conditions. It can also be used as a coping mechanism by people who have developmental disabilities like autism or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Play therapists primarily work with children, although they occasionally apply this approach to adults and adolescents as well. Play therapy is used by many licensed experts. Social workers, therapists, and counsellors are a few examples of them.
What is Play Therapy (Psychotherapy)?
Play therapy is a tool that was first used in the field of Psychotherapy, or talk therapy. It entails a skilled therapist watching a client play and going along with them as they move. The strategy is founded on the notion that kids use play to subconsciously communicate. This means that people disclose information about themselves without recognizing it.
Children develop their talents and learn how to engage with the world through play. As a result, it comes naturally to them as a form of expression. A child may express their emotions during play either directly or metaphorically, giving a therapist insight into What they are experiencing. People can communicate about topics they might otherwise find challenging when they play together in a secure environment.
A therapeutic relationship is developed between the client and the therapist through participation in a shared activity. Children who might be wary of strangers can benefit the most from this. According to Play Therapy International (PTI), up to 71% of kids who get play therapy benefit. Typically, sessions run 30 to 45 minutes.
Who is eligible for play therapy?
Play therapy is most frequently used by therapists with children, but it can occasionally be beneficial for adults as well. According to the Association for Play Therapy (APT), play therapy can be used by mental health professionals to address a variety of disorders, such as behavioural illnesses including anxiety, sadness, and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
It might also be helpful for new behavioural issues that develop as a result of stressful experiences, such as divorce or bereavement. People with neurodevelopmental abnormalities may benefit from play therapy as a supportive intervention. This may apply to those with autism, ADHD, and learning difficulties. Play therapy does not “cure” these issues; instead, it offers children emotional support and teaches them social and academic skills.
Benefits of play therapy for children
Helping children with autism learn new skills
A little study examined play therapy’s effects on 20 autistic kids. The kids’ behavioural and developmental skills significantly improved after two years. Play therapy may assist autistic youngsters with social relationships, according to the authors. To determine if play therapy is successful, however, a study on a wider population of kids is required.
Reduce issues with learning in ADHD children.
The symptoms of ADHD, such as difficulties concentrating, intrusive conducts, and oppositional behaviour, were found to be lessened by child-centered play therapy in a short research involving three first-grade kids. Over the course of six weeks, the kids took part in three sessions each week. The therapy seemed to be effective to varied degrees, with small to significant gains. However, this was a relatively limited study that only looked at three particular situations. It might not accurately represent the prevalence of play therapy’s effectiveness.
Decrease symptoms of ODD
A child with ODD exhibits persistent hostility and resistance toward peers and authoritative figures. A study involving 45 ODD children found that both solo and group play therapy reduced ODD symptoms compared to no treatment. For eight weeks, children receiving play therapy received one session each week. Parents, guardians, and teachers saw decreases in ODD-related conduct at the conclusion of the study. These results indicated play therapy may result in long-lasting effects because they persisted for at least two months. More investigation is required to support this, though.
Methods and Techniques
Examples and techniques of play therapy are shown below
Playing with toys in general
indicates that one of three toy categories may be used during play therapy with children:
Real-world toys: These help kids make friends and are aimed at withdrawn or introverted kids. They consist of things like:
- Boats
- Dolls
- Play money
Toys that encourage aggression: These encourage the expression of rage and hate. They comprise things like:
- Superhero figures
- Ropes
- Toy guns
Creative toys: provide a means of expressing a wide range of emotions. They consist of things like:
- Lego toys
- Crayons
- Play-Doh
The therapist tries to gauge the child’s emotions as they play. The play is directed by these interpretations, which enable the therapist to determine whether their hypothesis is accurate. Their interpretation will either be supported or rejected by the child’s response.
The play will be directed to assist the child in a variety of ways after the therapist has grasped its significance. For instance, they might assist them in learning how to deal with a challenge or a difficult emotion.
Play in the Sand tray
With the help of a tray, sand and small toys, a therapist helps a kid build a scene or play world during sand tray play. A study involving seven kids aged 7 to 10 found that the approach may be useful for people who have been sexually abused.
Reading and hearing stories
Children can learn how others have overcome issues comparable to their own by hearing or reading a story. They might then apply what they have learned to their own real-life circumstances, according to an older 1999 journal case study.
Playing roles in Drama
A child who has gone through a painful situation could find relief by taking on a role in a play. A child deals with the experience symbolically through characters in a performed tale rather than reliving it. They can arrive at an internal settlement through this role-playing.
Playing games
Therapists may employ the approach of playing games with older children, adolescents, and adults. It claims that adhering to the guidelines can assist someone who has trouble focusing. Games can help people socialize because they teach them how to share, take turns, and be gracious winners or losers.
What kind of qualifications does play therapist follow?
A play therapist might be licensed in mental health and hold a master’s degree or higher, for example:
- Psychology
- Counselling
- Social work
Once qualified, a person can register to become a play therapist. This shows that they have finished further play therapy curriculum and clinical supervision.
Conclusion:
Play therapy is a type of psychological therapy that makes use of play to help patients express unconscious emotions or other things they find difficult to put into words. 71% of kids who took it, according to PTI, saw improvements.
Potential advantages include a decrease in behavioural issues brought on by rage, sadness, or trauma. People with developmental disabilities may benefit from play therapy to work through issues or acquire practical skills.
If anyone is interested in trying play therapy (psychotherapy), visit our website and contact us. Shaping Therapies is one of the best play therapy (psychotherapy) service providers for children and adults in Thane, Powai and Mulund.
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