How does it work?
Play Therapy uses a variety of play and creative arts techniques to alleviate chronic, mild and moderate psychological and emotional conditions, by responding to the child's wishes.
It is a model that acknowledges that children communicate naturally through the language of play; it is a child-led intervention
It is intended for children who need to work through their issues and find a way to make sense of their world
It can play a major role in supporting behavioural change, by providing a safe environment for the child to work through the issues himself or herself, at his or her own speed.
It is particularly effective with children who cannot, or do not want to, talk about their problems.
When children encounter a challenging situation, they do not always have the ability to solve the problem alone, or communicate what is going on to someone they trust.
George* real life story
George lost his father, when he was very young. Coming to the Play Therapy Room became a very important part of his week. It gave him a place to be and to be heard. By using the Tool Kit, George explored his loss. His grief had a place, his sadness and anger could be expressed in a safe way and he started a healing process as sessions went by.
*names have been changed to protect their identities, but all other facts are true.
What research says about Play Therapy
- Brantton et. al (2005) The Efficacy of Play Therapy with Children: A Meta Analytic Review of Threatment Outcomes.
- Ginsberg, (2006) The importance of Play in promoting Healthy child Development and Maintaining strong Parent Bonds. American Academy of Paediatrics.
Play Therapy Works!
All Videos
Introduction to Play Therapy for Parents
Trauma & Play Therapy: Holding Hard Stories | Paris Goodyear-Brown, MSSW, LCSW, RPTS | TEDxNashville
