About Play Therapy

Play is a vital part of every child's life. Through play, children learn, develop, and express their thoughts and feelings. Play therapists enter the emotional world of the child and allow the child to lead. When a child feels understood and safe, they can begin to express their problems and concerns and gain mastery over difficult and challenging situations. This leads to increased self esteem and more enjoyable relationships with family members, friends and those around them. Wikipedia...

Who Benefits?

Play therapy is helpful for children in a wide range of situations. For example, children and adolescents who are coping with parental conflict, divorce, or who have witnessed domestic violence, can benefit from play therapy. Also, children who have experienced loss, such as illness or death of a loved one, or who have been traumatized by abuse, disasters or serious accidents may also find play therapy helpful. In play therapy, a child's anxiety about a traumatic event can be reduced, feelings are expressed, trust in self and others increases, and a sense of competence is enhanced.

Parent Involvement

Parents are a very important part of the play therapy process. Parents meet with the therapist on a regular basis to provide crucial information as to what is occuring outside therapy. Parents may be asked to join their child in play therapy sessions and/or given activities and recommendations to further support their child's progress.

Links

Association for Play Therapy

Suggested Readings

Relationship Play Therapy by C. Moustakas
Reaching Children Through Play Therapy by Carol and Byron Norton
The Child's First Book of Play Therapy by M. Nemiroff and J. Annunziata