What is Play Therapy
Play Therapy is a way of supporting children who are finding it difficult to process and understand what might be happening in their lives. This can be provided individually or in groups of 4 maximum. (Groups would be individuals that have the same issue) It is utilised in a way that enables the child or children to express their feelings. It is often used to allow children to move forward and heal from traumatic events and/or work through difficult periods within their day to day lives. It has been proven to be effective as it allows children to process their feelings at their own pace and also doesn’t require the use of language skills to communicate. Play is the ideal therapy for children because it allows them to be creative and imagine anything they want; it is the explorative nature that allows a child to learn and deal with the issues that are concerning them.
During Play Therapy the child leads the session with the therapist providing safe boundaries. By engaging with the toolkit this allows the child to naturally tap into their unconscious thoughts and feelings and bring these to the conscious to be processed in a safe way at their own pace. This allows them to explore themselves as individuals, practice different roles, understand and develop relationships with others, make sense of their experiences through exploration of their emotions. If the child is experiencing difficulties doing this the therapist will facilitate support.
Aims of Play Therapy
For children to manage conflicts or relationships in more appropriate ways.
Give children emotional resources to deal with past issues
To develop resilience for the future
Outcomes from Play Therapy
Improvement in language skills and communication
Positive changes in behaviour and raised self-esteem
Better relationships with others.
The Play Therapy Toolkit
This comprises of different mediums to allow the child to communicate when they can’t find the right words.
Art and Craft – supports creative and aesthetic experiences
Clay
Dance and movement – facilitate physical difficulties and co-ordination
Drama/role play – facilitates social relationships
Creative Visualisations – supports understanding and thinking
Figurines and small world objects
Masks – caring for self
Musical Instruments – aids communication
Puppets – caring for self
Sand tray – facilitates emotional needs
Therapeutic Stories – supports moral and spiritual development
This toolkit allows the child to use as many or as few of the items available to them. This allows child to express themselves without having to use verbal explanations if they don’t want to.
Who would benefit from Play Therapy?
Children who are having issues with the following;
Traumatic events
Loss or bereavement of any kind
Separation/divorce of parents
Anxiety and stress
Emotional, Physical or Sexual Abuse
Not reaching their academic or social potential
At risk of exclusion from school
Adopted or fostered or in the process of being.
Children with low self esteem
This list is not exhaustive.
Referrals
Referrals are accepted from Parents, Carers, Schools and Children Services/other organisations working with Children and Young People. Individual and group sessions are offered.
When a referral is made a meeting will take place to decide whether Play Therapy is the right therapy. If so, a meeting will take place with the client, Parent and referrer to ascertain expectations and outcomes; a strength and difficulties questionnaire will be completed (SDQ) by all parties. The Client may complete one of their own if old enough and it is appropriate to do so. The client will be shown the toolkit.
Usually for individual sessions there will be a minimum of 12 sessions to allow the client to explore and process their difficulties. Another SDQ is completed at week 8 which will determine whether sessions should carry on or not. This would also be in consultation with the client, parent and referrer. It maybe that 16 or more sessions are required to process fully their issues.
A report at the end of the sessions can be provided if required.
Benefits of Play Therapy
Play is essential for children to develop physically, emotionally and socially.
It fosters imagination and creativity.
Encourages confidence and concentration.
It helps children to make friends and learn about their ever-expanding world.
It allows them to learn from mistakes safely.
Play can be used to establish a relationship. It is used when children do not wish to verbalise their feelings.
Play builds new neural pathways by releasing chemicals in the brain. Anti-anxiety chemicals are released in the brain when a child/adult is helped to think about their feelings) trauma in a modified way.
New neural pathways develop in the brain as we record new experience through play and metaphor. This allows for change to enable healing.
So symbolic / fantasy play with its use of metaphors provides new experiences that develops the brain/mind and allow healing.