Play Therapy

"Toys are children's words and play is their language."

-Gary Landreth

Carrie Gardner, LMHC-D, is back to talk about Play Therapy. Carrie is currently working to complete her certification in Child Centered Play Therapy and reads books like Child Centered Play Therapy Research for pleaure - so she seems like the right person for the job. Take it away, Carrie.

Last month we talked about the importance of play for children’s developing brains. In this newsletter, we’ll discuss not only the importance of utilizing play in treatment but specifically play therapy – which is an evidence-based treatment for addressing children’s mental health concerns. Now we want to expand on this and share a bit about play therapy. Given my love of the science of play and play therapy, I love when I get questions like:

What is play therapy?

Why choose play therapy?

What happens during a play therapy session?”

These are such important questions and make so much sense to ask when trying to understand how “playing” for a therapy session will help. Luckily, over the years much more research has come out to support the use of different play therapy modalities. We at RRC are super passionate about not only knowing the techniques to use in sessions but the science behind them.

What is play therapy?

Play therapy is a treatment modality that uses children’s natural rhythm of play to help them understand themselves and feel more confident about who they are as a person. Play therapists, like therapists using other treatment modalities (such as DBT or CBT), are utilizing a theory to structure how to use play in an effective manner during sessions. There is a framework to follow that helps play not just be “play” but play with a purpose. The Association for Play Therapy defines play therapy as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.” Also, as Gary Landreth said, therapists are using toys to help children “talk” about what is happening and play as the way they can share what is happening with them. Currently, I am working on getting my certification with Child Centered Play therapy and use that framework to structure sessions.

Why play therapy?

We know that play helps children process their world using what feels most natural to them at their current level of development, so it's natural to have treatment utilize that. Children use the parts of their brain most developed when playing (mainly sensory based systems) to help strengthen connections in their brain to understand themselves and the world. In session, if I ask a child a question, they will either just look at me, ignore the question, or say “I don’t know.” The words to describe what is going on might not be available right now but they sure love to take my toy tornado and fling some sand around. As I watch that sand flying, I can understand what might be happening inside. We can then reflect in session (“Wow, it seems like that was so hard for you and felt like you had all these big emotions, anger, sadness, confusion, all at once") which helps kids take that sensory experience of driving that tornado through the sand and understand what might be happening for them and what words can help them express the experience. Sand is also regulating which helps them stay connected longer to do the work in a session. Also, when we use play to help children identify different thoughts, emotions, and experiences, it can feel more natural and engaging to them. 

What happens during a play therapy session?

A play therapy session can look different depending on what theory of play the therapist is using. Overall, there are about 3 or 4 phases of play therapy: 1) building safety and trust, 2) processing and understanding feelings, thoughts, and behaviors, 3) Developing new skills and deeper processing, and then 4) Integrating the new skills and understanding of self.

Personally, I utilize more of a non-directive approach, so I follow the child’s lead and use what they are playing with to help process through current difficulties. I spend time reflecting different emotions during play activities to help with ability to understand, identify and verbalize emotions. When the puppets are having a fight, we are working on how each might be feeling and what they can do to communicate more effectively. Making slime and using sand helps to provide ways to practice regulation skills and understand sensory needs.

Please always feel welcome to talk to your child's therapist with any questions you may have about play therapy.

Thank you Catherine Cook for finding the quote below!