Play Therapy Is More Than Child’s Play

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” – Plato Some issues that clients bring to the counseling office can be addressed via talk therapy, while others respond more adroitly to non-verbal interactions. For those in the younger set, being able to express themselves beyond words is an essential aspect of healing. Play Therapy is best suited for those ranging in age from 3-16 years old. The Association for Play Therapy (APT) 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.” There are many indications for the need to engage in this modality. Acting out behaviors, including harm to self or others, withdrawal and isolation. Depression and anxiety. Defiant behaviors and overt and disruptive breaking of social, familial or educational systems’ rules such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder or Conduct Disorder. The use of substances to self-medicate. Suicidal ideation. Non-verbal autism or Asperger’s Syndrome. Selective mutism. Reactive Attachment Disorder. Eating Disorder such as Anorexia or Bulimia. According to the British Association of Play Therapists, the modality was developed by Anna Freud, Margaret Lowenfeld and Melanie Klein, who witnessed the benefits of this alternative...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Autism / Asperger's Caregivers Children and Teens Creativity Disorders Family General Psychology Psychotherapy School Issues Treatment Aspergers Syndrome Association for Play Therapy Attachment disorder Attachment Theory Auti Source Type: news