Play Therapy

AN EXPLANATION AND HOW IT IS BENEFICIAL

WHAT IS PLAY THERAPY?

The Association for Play Therapy (APT) defined play

therapy as "the systematic use of a theoretical

model to establish an interpersonal process

wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic

powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve

psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal

grwoth and development".

WHAT MAKES PLAY

THERAPY DIFFERENT FROM
REGULAR PLAY?

Play therapy differs from regular play in that the

therapist helps children to address and resolve their

own problems. It helps build on the natural way

that children learn about themselves and the

realtionships in the world around them.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO PLAY THERAPY?

Can help children:

Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful

strategies

Develop new and creative solutions to problems

Develop respect and acceptance of self and others

Learn to experience and express emotion

Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others

Learn new social skills and relational skills with family

Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities

ARE CHILDREN THE ONLY

DEMOGRAPHIC WHO CAN
BENEFIT FROM PLAY THERAPY?

No, but clients usually seen in play therapy are children

ranging from ages 3-12 years old. Teenagers and

Adults have also benefited from play techniques and

recreational processes.

WHY CHOOSE PLAY

THERAPY?

In play therapy, toys are like the child's words and

play is the child's language. Through play,

therapists may help children learn more adaptive

behaviors when there are emotional or social skills

deficit.

1. Association for Play Therapy. (n.d.). Play Therapy Makes a Difference. Retrieved from

https://www.a4pt.org/page/PTMakes a difference/Play-Therapy-Makes-a-Difference.htm

2. Carmichael, K. D. (2006). Play therapy: An introduction. Glenview, IL: Prentice Hall.

COMPILED BY
a. Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship. New York, NY: Brunner-Ruttledge.

3. Carmichael, K. D. (2006). Play therapy: An introduction. Glenview, IL: Prentice Hall.

a. Gil, E. (1991). Healing power of play: Working with abused children. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

ABIGAIL b. Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship. New York, NY: Brunner-Ruttledge.

c. Schaefer, C. E. (1993). The therapeutic power of play. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson, Inc.

FLORIANO 4. Pedro-Carroll, J., & Reddy, L. (2005). A preventive play intervention to foster children's resilience in the aftermath of

divorce. In L. Reddy, T. Files-Hall, & C. Schaefer (Eds.),  Empirically based play interventions for children  (pp.51-75).

SOURCE/S: Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

a. Schaefer, C. E. (2003). Play therapy with adults. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

5. Landreth, G. L. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship. New York, NY: Brunner-Ruttledge.

6. Pedro-Carroll, J., & Reddy, L. (2005). A preventive play intervention to foster children's resilience in the aftermath of

divorce. In L. Reddy, T. Files-Hall, & C. Schaefer (Eds.),  Empirically based play interventions for children  (pp.51-75).

Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.