Play Therapy

Many parents or caregivers can intuitively pick up when their child is not quite themselves. Whether it’s noticing that their child is having difficulty sleeping, withdrawing more than usual, having trouble with friendships or school, or that something about them is different following an upsetting or traumatic event.

While many can be quick to dismiss these concerns, we regularly find that these hunches from parents or caregivers can be a strong indication that the root cause of their child’s emotional or behavioural challenges has not yet been identified. Parents and caregivers are often eager to help their child, but don’t know where to start, or how to best offer support if their child is unwilling to talk about the problem or lacks the developmental skills to do so.

In contexts such as these, Play Therapy can be an invaluable tool to uncover and support the difficulties that a child may be experiencing. Children may not have the ability to process their emotions or articulate with others that they are struggling - but the way they do communicate naturally and effortlessly is through the language of play.

What Is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy is built upon the knowledge that children use play to express themselves, learn and understand their world. In play therapy, their psychologist will create a safe environment where the child feels comfortable to play freely with a range of activities. These might include dolls or figurines, painting, dancing, games, puppets, LEGO, cars, sand, play money, dress-ups and play-doh, to name a few. During play, children are often less guarded and free to act out their inner thoughts and deeper feelings, and the toys may take on a greater meaning or act as symbols. For example, a child may use dolls to reenact an upsetting memory they have experienced.

This is where we have a unique opportunity to observe themes or patterns in how children interact with the toys over time, which can indicate what is happening in their inner world. Through a combination of talk and play, psychologists can then work alongside your child to help them to understand and verbalise their feelings, and support them with a wide range of difficulties they may be facing. This could include dealing with trauma, learning new coping mechanisms, and altering inappropriate behaviours. As well as this, Play Therapy can encourage creativity, introduce helpful ways of thinking and behaving, and teach problem-solving skills as well as effective social skills.

Who Can Benefit From Play Therapy?

Play therapy is particularly beneficial for children. It can be used to support a number of concerns, including:

Autism
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Depression and anxiety
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Physical, sexual or emotional abuse
Pre-operative anxiety
Problem classroom behaviours or aggressive behaviours
Palliative care and chronic illness
Cultural issues
Behavioural disorders and learning disabilities

Play Therapy For Adolescents And Adults

Play isn’t only for children, and neither is play therapy. Teenagers and adults can also find it challenging to express their innermost feelings in words. Adults who may benefit from play therapy include those affected by:

Intellectual disabilities
Dementia
Chronic illness, palliative care, and hospice care
Substance use
Physical abuse
PTSD
Unresolved concerns from childhood

What Is The Evidence Behind Play Therapy?

Research shows that play therapy is particularly beneficial in treating pre-operative anxiety, ADHD, problem classroom behaviours, anxiety, fear, and self-efficacy.
Play Therapy has been shown to benefit children with ADHD by improving their anxiety, withdrawal difficulties, sudden mood changes, and learning challenges.
Children with learning disabilities or those lacking in self-esteem respond well to play therapy, which can then help in classroom settings.
Play therapy has been found to improve both the expressive and perceptual skills related to speech in children with speech difficulties.
Research shows that play therapy enhances children's socio-emotional, communication and problem-solving skills.
Play therapy has been found to reduce disobedience, off-task behaviour, and disruptive behaviours.,
Children who participate in play therapy before undergoing surgery have been found to experience significantly less stress both before and after their operation.

Play Therapy

What Is Play Therapy?

Who Can Benefit From Play Therapy?

What Is The Evidence Behind Play Therapy?

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