Play Therapy
Children express themselves much differently than adults do because of their unique developmental stages. This means that children often have difficulty articulating their emotions verbally in a traditional therapeutic setting. Play therapy provides children with a space to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences through the “language” of children: play! Through play, children make sense of the world around them as they project their feelings and thoughts onto their surroundings. They are also able to build rapport with their therapist in a more comfortable and natural setting. Additionally, children who are reluctant to attend therapy may be more motivated to participate when play is incorporated. They may even look forward to play therapy sessions, which increases the effectiveness of the therapy. Play therapy aims to promote emotional regulation, build social skills, improve self-esteem, foster resilience to life’s challenges, increase one’s understanding of their experiences, and encourage healing from trauma and abuse.
Play therapy takes on many forms. The therapist may plan activities or they might utilize child-led play where the child guides the direction of the play in the session. Play therapy can also involve parents or caregivers who collaborate with and support the child in the session. This allows adults to witness the therapeutic techniques used in session so they can implement them at home. We recommend play therapy for children from the ages of 3 and 11. Children who are experiencing challenges such as grief and loss, trauma, abuse, divorce or separation, physical health struggles, anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), social or academic development difficulties, learning disabilities, or difficulty coping with life transitions may benefit from play therapy. Play therapy is most effective when a trusting relationship is built between the therapist and the client and the child’s parent or caretaker is invested in the therapeutic process. For more information about play therapy and if it would be beneficial for your child, please reach out to inquiries@minnesotarenewal.org.