Play Therapy

What can play therapy help with?

• Does your child grapple with big emotions or to regulate their emotions?
• Are you concerned about any disruptive behaviors, anxiety or sensory issues with your kiddo?
• Or maybe you and your child want support navigating the world with neurodivergency?

What is play therapy?

Play therapy is a type of therapy where the therapist utilizes play, toys, and games to help a child explore and express the problems and emotions they are experiencing. Play therapy is built on the foundation that play is the natural language of children and so by utilizing play in a therapeutic way, children can work through big feelings and difficult life changes in a way that feels more natural to them. There are two types of play therapy, non-directive and directive, and both have been shown to be helpful. Play therapists often say, “play is the child’s language and toys are the child’s words.” 

How is play therapy different than my child playing at home?

Similar to how talk therapy works differently than when you vent to a friend or family member about the problems in your own life, play therapy is different too. Play therapists are trained to find the underlying themes that repeat themselves throughout a child’s play and how those themes give insight to what a child may be thinking or feeling. 

Why We Offer Both Types of Play Therapy

Non-directive play therapy is the original play therapy approach where the therapist allows the child to lead in the therapy sessions. The therapist is open and willing to go where the child wants to go. This openness allows the child to start exploring their problems and emotions in a safe space. Non-directive play therapists avoid setting parameters on the session and they avoid trying to lead the child to a specific conversation or place. Instead, the therapist focuses on what the child is doing in the moment and following the play themes as they emerge naturally from the child’s play. 

In directive play therapy, the therapist has specific goals and interventions in mind for the therapy session. The therapist knows where they want to take the conversation based on the problem and symptoms the child is experiencing. Directive play therapist often set the room up with specific toys and activities to use in session ahead of time. The play therapist will intentionally lead the child to play scenarios that purposefully lead the child to discuss the problem at hand. Directive play therapy also focuses on teaching the child skills or information to help manage their problems or symptoms.

Which Type of Play Therapy is Best for My Child?

Now that you understand the difference between non-directive and directive play therapy, you may ask yourself which is better for my child? Research has found both approaches to be beneficial for different reasons and there are many factors that come into play when choosing an approach. Generally speaking, we find that non-directive play therapy is helpful at the beginning of the therapy process and with younger children (age 7 or under). Older children (age 8 and up) tend to benefit more from directive therapy. The type of play therapy approach will also depend on what’s bringing your kiddo to therapy and how your child is responding to therapy. At ESC, the approach to play therapy will be tailored to your child’s needs.

How Do I Start this Process with My Kiddo?

At Embrace Strength Counseling, the process starts with an intake session between the parents and the therapist, where you get to talk about your primary concerns regarding your kiddo and ask any questions of the therapist. From there, the therapy sessions would take place in our play therapy room, which hosts a variety of toys, each with specific purposes to help encourage kiddo to explore and process their feelings and problems. The therapist will observe how your child participates in the therapeutic process and determine if non-directive or directive would be more beneficial. Also, your therapist will include parents in the process which can look many different ways from being in the room with your kiddo to perodic parent check-ins to discuss progress and recommendations.

So how does this process help my child and what does that help look like? 

As a child plays through the various scenarios in the playroom, they are processing the way they need to and through this process play will resolve their problems and symptoms. 

Through play therapy, kiddos develop a secure attachment with a trusted adult, other than their parents, and parents benefit from having another adult reiterate needed behavioral changes outside of the home. The impact of play therapy is long-lasting and worth the time commitment.  

Play therapy helps the child increase their self-efficacy and confidence, helps the child make sense of their world and experiences and play therapy actually helps reshape a child’s brain circuits. 

So now that you know what play therapy is, how it works and how it helps your child, we hope you recognize the benefits of having your child engage in play therapy. Whether they are experiencing anxiety, going through a life change or just need space to explore their world in a safe and meaningful way, play therapy can be incredibly beneficial for a child.

I Still Feel Confused about What Non-Directive Play Therapy Looks Like 

It’s not uncommon for parents to wonder what a non-directive play therapy session entails. The therapist will establish a warm, friendly relationship with the child and accept the child exactly as they are in the therapy room. The therapist will give the child freedom to express their feelings completely and play freely without therapist direction. As the child plays out scenarios, the therapist will look at the themes that emerge and how they relate to the child’s problems and fears. The therapist is completely present in the moment and focused on the child and utilizes their play therapy skills to help the child in their play process. 

Therapy for Your Child is a Step Away

If you would like to schedule an appointment or find out more about how our team of therapists can support you, please email our director at info@embracestrengthcounseling.com or call us at 303.720.9424. We offer a free initial 20-minute phone consultation so we can answer any questions you may have and see if it’s a good fit. Our team has daytime, evening, and Saturday appointments available, in-person and virtually.