Play Therapy
"Play Therapy is based upon the fact that play is the child’s
natural medium of self-expression. It is an opportunity which
is given to the child to 'play out' his feelings and problems
just as, in certain types of adult therapy, an individual
'talks out' his difficulties."
Virginia Axline
"Play is a child's work and this is not a trivial pursuit."
Alfred Adler
"Play affords direct access to a child's unconscious.
Play for the child is like free association for the adult."
Melanie Klein
"The field of play is where, to a large
extent, a sense of self is generated."
Russell Meares
"Symbolic play provides safe opportunities for reenactment,
rehearsal, the practice needed to strengthen the child and
prepare him for dealing directly with traumatizing events."
Beverly James
"Play gives children the opportunity to search for and
experiment with alternative solutions to their problems."
Jerome Singer
Play is the child's natural form of expression, exploration, and learning. Many children use play as a kind of self-therapy, working out fears and frustration in their own way. When emotional development is disrupted or blocked, children may require the help of a mental health professional who has been trained to develop therapeutic relationships with children through play. The professional provides materials; encourages various play; helps children learn to express feelings appropriately; provides non-punitive firm limits, and helps children develop trust, understanding, and impulse control.
Children lack the cognitive maturity to benefit from talking through their problems. Nor do adult controlled activities give children the feeling of empowerment they can achieve with the voluntary activity of play. In a play therapy session, the child is the director and rule maker. They create a world they can master, practice social skills, overcome frightening feelings, and symbolically triumph over the upsets and traumas that have stolen their sense of well-being.
A trained play therapist understands the metaphorical content of a child's play, and strives to help the child express their needs and discover solutions in a safe, therapeutic environment. Play is the child's natural method of learning, developing, and expressing their feelings. Play Therapy offers children the opportunity to use the power of their own natural creativity and imagination to heal and grow.
Play therapy takes place in a playroom, specially designed, decorated, and furnished with the toys and equipment children need to use as tools for the dramatic scenes they direct with the therapist. Parents are important allies in the play therapy process and can do much to support and enhance the work their child does in play therapy sessions. Therapists meet regularly with parents to learn what is happening in the child's life, to share important observations, and to give suggestions on how parents can support their child's therapy.
