Play therapy is a gentle intervention that utilises the power of play that allows children to resolve emotional and behavioural difficulties. Often children don’t feel comfortable communicating how they feel using words, but they mostly always feel comfortable expressing how they feel through play, as “play is their language and toys are their words.” Just like adults attend therapy to talk out their problems, children attend therapy and use the space to play out their feelings and release their anxieties.
It is natural for children to experience anxiety throughout the different stages of their development, but if a child starts to experience anxiety for several months that interferes with their everyday normal functioning, that is usually a sign that there is a deeper issue that may need to be resolved. Play therapy offers children a space to explore what is causing their upset and work through these anxieties. The relationship between the therapist and the child is an important part of the therapy.
Children attend play therapy for many different reasons, they may have experienced a traumatic life event such as a bereavement or loss, autism, ADHD and other neurodivergent challenges. Children with low self-esteem, anxiety, toileting problems, bullying or being bullied, anger and aggression difficulties or children who have experienced parental separation or a difficult change in their life may all benefit from play therapy.
There are many benefits of play therapy, it relieves the child’s feelings of anxiety, helps with emotional regulation, promotes their self-confidence, expands their emotional literacy, helps children to develop better coping skills and supports them to reach their potential.
Play therapy is a process that involves the therapist and parents working collaboratively. Before a child begins play therapy, consultations are arranged between the therapist and parents so that they get an opportunity to discuss their concerns and where they may need support with their child. Play therapy can be either short term or long term, every child is unique and different, their needs vary, so too will the length of time they attend therapy.
For more information contact Helplink Mental Health at www.helplink.ie, email helplinksupport@helplink.ie, or call 0818 99 88 80.
