Play Therapy
Play Therapy is a technique that focuses on the use of play to address mental health for clients of all ages!
What is play therapy?
Play therapy is an evidence-based therapy modality used for addressing mental health concerns in children, teens, and even adults! Children naturally engage in play and use it to express themselves. Where adults use words, children use play. Play helps children express what is troubling them when they haven’t yet developed the vocabulary to do so. While play therapy looks like “ just playing “ on the outside, play therapists are trained in specific skills that use a child’s play in fostering overall wellness.
How does play therapy work?
How play therapy works is dependent on the therapist's theoretical orientation, but it is all different means to the same goal: fostering healing and emotional growth. It is often child-led - meaning a therapist does not dictate what or how a child plays. This builds strong rapport, safety, and allows the client to explore their own personal strengths and inner world. Throughout the process, therapists use skills to track themes, symbols, and metaphors in play that provide insight into their challenges and offer guided support in resolving those challenges.
Play is not only a child’s first language, it is also one of the most effective ways to teach children (see here!). Play therapy techniques use play activities to teach children strategies, conflict resolution, self awareness, and more.
What does play therapy teach?
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Play therapy targets what are called the therapeutic powers of play*. Play therapy can help:
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Self-Expression
Learning direct & indirect communication
Emotional release
Increasing positive emotions
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Reducing Fears
Reducing Stress
Managing Stress
Building Relationships
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Improving social relationships
Increasing empathy
Building resilience
Developing creative problem-solving skills​​
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Developing morality
Supporting brain development
Improving self-regulation
Improving self-esteem
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*Schaefer, C. E., & Drewes, A. A. (Eds.), (2014). The therapeutic powers of play: 20 core agents of change (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley
Who does play therapy benefit?
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While play therapy is often recommended and utilized for children, it can also be utilized for teenagers or adults! We were all kids once - and more than that, we still play! Play may look different at different ages, but play therapy is all about utilizing activities to help us express and share ourselves through familiar and fun activities. Sand trays, art, hobbies, crafts - all of these are activities that a therapist may recommend for older children and adults.
If you have more questions about play therapy, or if you want to learn more about play therapy, please reach out to us at office@phaseshsv.com, or feel free to read more from our resources below!
Related Links
Contact Us
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Feel free to explore our website for resources, or contact us directly if you have any questions here:
Phone: 256-521-2568
Fax: 256-521-2569
​Email: office@phaseshsv.com
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