Play Therapy

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Play Therapy is the treatment method of choice in many situations involving children, particularly children who are very young and/or non-verbal. Play is the child's work, it is said, and it is often the way children express feelings, learn new roles and behaviors, and work through situations that have been traumatic for them. Play therapy may last from a few sessions to several months, usually for a half-hour to an hour once or twice a week. Children may report that they "just play" when they spend time with a play therapist in the playroom, but there is always something important going on for the child during those times.

Working with a child's family is crucial to the success of any intervention with a child. Parents may observe or participate in the playroom during play therapy. Filial Therapy is a type of therapy where parents are trained to spend therapeutic time with their child which can then happen at home and more frequently. Parents may also consult with the therapist around their child's emotional health and behavioral approaches at home in order to prompt a child toward more positive behavior and phase out negative behavior patterns. The therapist may also consult directly with other settings, such as day care and school, to facilitate more positive behavior and minimize traumatic incidents for the child. Parents should always feel free to ask for time with their child's therapist to ask questions, express concerns, or just update the therapist on how things are going outside of the therapy time. Most therapists will want regularly scheduled time with the parents of any child they work with.

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