Play Therapy

What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a therapeutic technique used with children that helps them express their feelings and thoughts in a way that is natural for them and best suited for their developmental level. Using figurines, toys, dolls, art, and creative dramatics, the therapist creates a space for the child to express their emotions, increase self-awareness, learn adaptive coping skills, and resolve problems that may be the root of their behavioral/emotional disturbances.

Throughout play therapy, children learn coping skills to deal with emotional or behavioral stress and/or trauma. Allowing children to play in a safe environment with a trained play therapist helps them cope more adaptively, learn ways to make healthier decisions, and work through the emotional and/or behavioral stress they may be experiencing.

Who Should Attend Play Therapy?

Play therapy is generally used with children as young as three and up to eleven (and sometimes older, depending on the child’s developmental functioning and level). This type of therapy often helps children communicate with the therapist naturally, as it encourages the expression of feelings and serves as a vehicle to help children resolve certain emotions.

At the Art of Emotion, we have trained child therapists who utilize this approach to understand better the cause of the child’s disturbance in mood or behavior. This type of therapy also helps a child communicate comfortably and in tune with their developmental level.

This type of therapy has been found helpful for many different issues, including (but not limited to):

Family problems (e.g., parental separation or divorce, sibling problems)

• Victims of child abuse or other types of traumas
• Anxiety problems
• Adoption 
• Depression in Children and Teens
• Children who have developmental delays
• Children who have learning disabilities
• Social issues
• Bedwetting