Why use play for therapy?

What exactly is Play? Play is what children do naturally when all their basic needs are being met and they feel safe and cared for.

They then use play to explore the world, making friends, learning social skills, developing gross and fine motor skills, co-ordination, language, problem solving, developing imagination, creativity and generally have fun and enjoying themselves.

All play is incredibly valuable but the most important type is when it is child initiated and led. Adults can join the play and spend quality time with the children but keep in mind that it is the most developmentally powerful when it is all about what they want to do. They are encouraged to make choices and do what they enjoy the most.

Children can use play to express themselves when they don’t have the language skills to do so – they live at a level that is less in the higher thought processes, since their brains are still developing. They are more often at a level that is instinctual, emotional and reactive. They live more in the day to day and can derive pleasure in the simple things and be open to new experiences and ideas.

They spend their whole childhood finding out who they are and understanding what they enjoy doing and what they are naturally good at. Adults in their lives can have a great impact on children as they develop, to help them gain awareness about who they are and guide then in finding their path to adulthood.

But not all children have the same ability to play naturally, and not all children grow up in an environment that stimulates play. What is being understood now at a much greater level is the importance of children playing frequently to help them develop physically, emotionally, cognitively and socially. 

Play Therapy can achieve many things. The first role is to develop a child’s ability to play when this is not something they have been able to do naturally, due to developmental issues or because they have not lived in an environment that has enabled a lot of free play.

A play therapist can encourage and enhance a child’s ability to play which then helps them with all the skills mentioned previously. Not only is learning how to play encouraging children to have fun, it is multi-layered and helps them to develop many of the skills to cope with a lot of other parts of their lives that can be less fun, such as education, understanding social skills, emotional regulation, communication, even relaxing and sleeping.

Play Therapy can help children in all these areas of their lives in a very fun and non-directive way. We find out what the child likes to do and doesn’t find too challenging and we build on those interests and skills.

My specialisations are using animals and nature as part of the sessions  but this is a choice made by the client. There is more information about the benefits of these areas below.

The other wonderful part of play therapy is that children can communicate though their play. Communicating with language is very challenging for children (and many adults) especially for difficult experiences, thoughts and emotions. Play is a very non-direct way to communicate.

Once the child feels safe and can relax with me and in our play space (and this can take a few sessions) then the children can in their own time and way, start to express anything they feel they would like to, in a very compassionate and non-judgmental environment. Direct questions are very limited and we are just open and interested in them as a person and have a deeply held belief that given the right support, they can work through what they need to and become happier and healthier little people.