What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy helps children understand muddled feelings and upsetting events that they haven’t had the chance to sort out properly. Rather than having to explain what is troubling them, as adult therapy usually expects, children use play to communicate at their own level and at their own pace, without feeling interrogated or threatened.
How can Play Therapy help my child?
Play is vital to every child’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, creative and language development. It helps make learning concrete for all children and young people including those for whom verbal communication may be difficult.
Play Therapy helps children in a variety of ways. Children receive emotional support and can learn to understand more about their own feelings and thoughts. Sometimes they may re-enact or play out traumatic or difficult life experiences in order to make sense of their past and cope better with their future. Children may also learn to manage relationships and conflicts in more appropriate ways.
The outcomes of Play Therapy may be general, e.g. a reduction in anxiety and improved self-esteem, or more specific such as a change in behavior and improved relations with family and friends.
What will happen in my child’s Play Therapy sessions?
At Bloom Play Therapy, we have a large selection of play materials from which your child may choose. These include arts and craft materials, dressing up props, sand tray, small figures and animals, musical instruments, puppets, and books. Your child will be able to use these resources to express him or herself without having to provide verbal explanation.
How long does Play Therapy take?
Play Therapy can at times take longer to see direct results as there are no clear time tables for when a child will benefit directly from these services. The process typically takes longer and moves slower than mental health therapy with adults.
Some children will respond to a short term intervention (for example up to 12 sessions). However, when problems have persisted for a long time or are complicated, a longer-term intervention may be required. Sessions are usually once a week and consistency on a regular day and at the same time and place is very important for developing a trusting relationship. Unplanned missed sessions may disrupt the progress.
Why is the therapeutic relationship so important?
The therapeutic relationship that develops between your child and the Play Therapist is very important. Your child must feel comfortable, safe, and understood. This type of trusting environment makes it easier for the child to express his or her thoughts and feelings. It is also crucial that your child knows you are supporting the process.
Will it be confidential?
Information that you share about your child and family will usually be kept confidential. As a Play Therapist, I may share information with other colleagues and professionals for the benefit of your child with your permission. I am required to share information with other professionals if I am concerned that a child is being harmed, hurting others or themselves.
We will schedule therapist-guardian meetings at regular intervals to discuss progress and any changes and developments you have witnessed or experienced at home. However, I will not disclose specific details of how or what your child has played with. This is important in order to maintain your child’s trust and feelings of safety with me.
What can I do to help?
As your child’s guardian, you are essential in supporting him or her through the Play Therapy process.
- Be consistent and encouraging to your child about attending sessions regularly.
- Resist the urge to ask your child what they did, as this will put pressure on them to comment on something they may have difficulty understanding themselves.
- Don’t ask your child to ‘be good’ or check if they have been. Therapy is not about being ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and your child must feel free to express ‘bad’ feelings in an uncensored way.
- Don’t insist that your child tell his or her therapist certain things: it is their time and they must feel free to express themselves at their own pace. Instead, share your concerns with the therapist directly on a separate occasion.
- During any therapeutic intervention behavior may appear to get worse before it gets better – please let me know if you have concerns at any time. Please also feel free to ask any questions throughout the process.