Play Therapy
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is to children what counseling is to adults. Play is the child’s natural way of communicating. In the playroom, children express their feelings and thoughts by using different toys and creative materials. The toys in the playroom are carefully selected to facilitate a wide range of emotional expression and are an important part of the child’s communication process. Play therapy can strengthen a child’s friendship skills, empathy, problem solving, social maturity, self-management, and resilience.
What Does the Research Say?
Play Therapy research has shown effectiveness on improving or supporting children experiencing various concerns, such as:
- academic performance
- attachment challenges
- attention challenges, such as ADHD and ADD
- autism
- externalizing problems, such as aggression, disruptive behaviors, self-control
- internalizing behaviors, such as anxiety and depression
- loss and bereavement
- medical conditions
- parents/caregiver relationships
- self-concept and self-esteem
- social-emotional assets, such as empathy
- speech/language struggles
- teacher relationships
- trauma, natural disasters, and PTSD