PLAY THERAPY

DEFINITION:

Play therapy refers to a method of psychotherapy with children in which a therapist uses a child's
fantasies and the symbolic meanings of his or her play as a medium for understanding and
communication with the child.

 Practitioners of play therapy believe that this method allows the child to manipulate the world
on a smaller scale, something that cannot be done in the child's everyday environment.. By
playing with specially selected materials, and with the guidance of a person who reacts in a
designated manner, the child plays out his/her feelings, bringing these hidden emotions to the
surface where s/he can face them and cope with them.

THE PURPOSE OF PLAY THERAPY:

 to enable children to indirectly express inner thoughts, fears, anxieties, and feelings of
rage and guilt

 to help children accomplish developmental tasks through a protected modality in which

they can learn to deal with difficulties in the here and now (playroom as sanctuary)

 to help children reduce anxiety and resolve conflict

 Metaphorical expression of distressing events allows children to externalize and fantasize

their pain so that they can more effectively control it and learn adaptive ways to cope
with it.

PLAY TECHNIQUES

 Play Interview

 Counselor interviews child during play

 Balloon Bursting in Structured Play

  Helps inhibited children become more assertive

 Play houses

 How’s home relationships

 Gives insight into child’s view of ideal home

 Puppets

 may be used to talk about difficult issues

 a variety of 15-20 puppets recommended
 counselor interviews the child after the story is told through the puppets

 Telephone

 Children may imitate parents on the phone or talk to an imaginary or lost friend
or loved one

 Sand play

 Allows counselor access to child’s world while promoting understanding &

self-discovery

 Water play

 can be an outlet for releasing aggression or for relaxation

 Food

 counselor explores with child various reactions to food

 Finger Painting

 can help child express feelings, overcome inhibitions, reveal fantasies

 child tells the story of the painting and the teacher asks for clarification and
feelings
 color chosen and how the picture is drawn may be of importance

 Squiggle Technique
  Counselor draws a squiggle (straight, curved, or zigzag line) and asks child to
complete a drawing
 child tells a story about the squiggle with the Counselor asking for clarification
 process is then reversed; the Counselor’s story may be interpretative or make
suggestions

 Art and Music Therapy

 family drawings are often helpful in understanding family dynamics

 music can often reduce tension, stress, or anxiety

 The Emotional Barometer

 child is asked to give an indication of how he or she feels and how things are
going
 Role Playing
 used to act out situations or rehearse new learning
 may help Counselor understand how child perceives the world and relates to
others

 Family Word Association Game

 Child draws a picture of family, friends, or school and selects a card with an
adjective word on it to describe the person.

 Magic

 may be used to track relationship skills or promote awareness

 involve the child in the magic, choosing the tricks carefully to achieve a specific
goal

 Ventriloquism

 figures may help in gathering information from resistant children, to teach social
skills, or to explore ways for solving problems
 Board Games

 build relationships

 promote emotional growth

 enhance communication

 help children with anxiety

 promote socialization

 Competitive Play

 may be therapeutic and help with socialization skills, but negative effects on
esteem and attitude should be considered

 Group Play Therapy

 children with similar problems and/or similar backgrounds may benefit from
group play by sharing experiences and benefiting from the role modeling of others