Children learn through play and are able to express their feeling more during a session when they feel comfortable and know someone is listening and is interested in what they have to say. Non-Directive and Directive play therapy helps children improve their communication, social and problem-solving skills. I use the creativity and imagination of my younger patients to facilitate learning sessions to assist them with developing self-acceptance and self-efficacy.
According to an article associated with Psychology Today play therapy is a psycho-therapeutic approach primarily used to help children ages 3 to 12 explore their lives and freely express repressed thoughts and emotions through play. Therapeutic play normally takes place in a safe, comfortable playroom, where very few rules or limits are imposed on the child, encouraging free expression and allowing the therapist to observe the child’s choices, decisions, and play style. The goal is to help children learn to express themselves in healthier ways, become more respectful and empathetic, and discover new and more positive ways to solve problems.
Therapeutic play helps children with social or emotional deficits learn to communicate better, change their behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and relate to others in positive ways. It is appropriate for children undergoing or witnessing stressful events in their lives, such as a serious illness or hospitalization, domestic violence, abuse, trauma, a family crisis, or an upsetting change in their environment. Play therapy can help children with academic and social problems, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, anxiety, depression, grief, or anger, as well as those with attention deficit disorders or who are on the autism spectrum.
Play and Art Therapy can be used to treatment Teen and Adults.