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What Is Play Therapy?

28 July 2020

Lieve Boekholt

If you have been struggling with the behavior of your child, it may be time to take him or her to a child psychologist. After trying all of the different parenting techniques to no avail, you may just need help understanding the thought processes of your child. Therapists do this in a number of different ways, one of which is especially prevalent is play therapy. 

Child's play therapy is the process of your child's therapists sitting down to enjoy some nonchalant play with them around once a week. This may not seem helpful, but in reality, therapists are trained to watch for specific behaviors or indicators which could explain a lot about what your child is going through. There are many different types of child play therapy, some of which are as follows.

Creativity Play

It is incredible what can come out of the mind of a child. Therapists often use creative play as a way to understand how your child thinks and how they see the world. In addition, many creative outlets allow raw emotions to be seen. Drawing, painting, and sculpting are all ways a therapist may coach a child to express emotion. 

Family Play

Playing with your child in the presence of a child therapist or psychologist may help them to understand how your family interacts. They may be able to help you find more constructive ways to talk to or relate with your child in ways you have never thought about. 

Non-Directive Play

Non-directive play is when your child is placed in a room with toys and then does what they want. Again, this allows the therapist to watch them and how they interact with their world, sometimes bringing to light things that you may have missed as a parent. 

Directive Play

Directive play is when a therapist is much more hands-on in playing with your child. They put your child in situations with toys or dolls that may initiate a response in order to understand how they think. 

In conclusion, most therapists use a combination of different play therapy methods in order to grasp the whole situation your child may be dealing with.  Some parents mistakenly assume that play therapy is a waste of time since it can be done at home. This treatment path has been proven to help with behavioral and emotional problems and should be appreciated as such. To find a therapist near you who works through play therapy, you should contact your insurance. 

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