Play therapy is a psychotherapeutic treatment, specially developed to help children between the ages of 3 to 12. A play therapist works with the child to explore and resolve their issues through the therapeutic use of play.
A safe space called a playroom is created. This allows the child to play with specially chosen toys, encourages them to express their feelings, and helps them develop healthier behaviors. A variety of techniques such as drama, storytelling, sand play, painting, drawing, and creative visualization can be used.
Who Can Benefit From Play therapy?
Children who are constantly aggressive and willfully disobedient- Kids who are ill or grieving
- Any child who has depression, anxiety, or attachment problems
- Children who are involved with fostering or adoption
- Kids with conditions like autism and speech problems
Different Ways Play Therapy Helps Children
It helps them heal from past traumatic experiences
When children go through traumatic events, the negative experiences can create emotional and behavioral problems. Play therapy helps them make sense of the traumatic experience, by using their imagination to express themselves through toys. For example, a child who has witnessed domestic violence may make his toys fight each other. Play helps the child unpack emotions, understand the experience better and heal.
It enhances creative thoughts and ideas
During play, children use their imagination and creative skills to learn through play. During play therapy, children get to create different scenarios with different endings. This gives them a better understanding of what’s happening in their lives, and helps them cope.
Play therapy helps them deal with difficult emotions and situations
Play therapy involves activities that help the therapist discover how the child deals with difficult emotions and situations and help the children address these difficulties. For example, a child may feel like they caused their parent’s divorce by being naughty. The therapist can help correct this wrong belief and help to eliminate feelings of guilt by encouraging positive thoughts.
It gives the child emotional support and helps them communicate their problems and concerns with others
In play therapy, children learn to work through difficult feelings and memories that they may not know how to put in words by expressing themselves symbolically with the use of toys. This helps the adults in their lives understand what children need in order to provide the right type of help and support.
Get Support for Your Child In Play Therapy in San Diego, CA
Play therapy is quite beneficial to children for a variety of different reasons. Kids who go through play therapy show great improvement in their mental health and display a higher level of confidence. Working through difficult feelings through play can be deeply restorative for children. If you would like your child to see a play therapist at Family Connections Therapy please follow these steps:
- Reach out to speak with a San Diego play therapist.
- Schedule your first appointment for your child
- Start watching them heal, grow, and thrive.
Other Services At Family Connections Therapy in California
There are a lot of counseling services offered at our San Diego-based therapy practice to support your mental health. Additionally, we offer children’s therapy, therapy for ADHD, and attachment and healthy development counseling. As well as LGBTQIA+ therapy for both children and teens and a social skills course. Our caring and understanding therapists also offer online therapy, family therapy, and couples therapy. While we provide individual therapy, depression treatment, and more for adults! Contact us to learn more about our therapy services!
