Children
Many therapists, psychologists and mental health practitioners will say they provide play therapy. However, what this usually means is that they have a couple of toys, a small sandbox and a few art supplies on one shelf in their office. Countless parents have taken their children to see a "play therapist" only to leave disappointed, having found that said "play therapist" expected their child to "talk" vs. "play" and that it was really no help at all.
So what is TRUE play therapy? Simply stated, play therapy is to children what counseling is to adults. However, in order for therapy to be effective for a child, it must take into account the developmental differences between adults and children. While it is effective for an adult to sit and talk through issues for the therapeutic hour, the same would not be true for a child due to limited vocabulary, attention span and differences in processing.
For children, toys are their words, which makes play their language. At Two Hearts Counseling, you can be confident that we speak the language of your child.
Two Hearts Counseling values your children and invests in their therapeutic growth by providing a 300 square foot play room that gives them adequate space to truly express themselves. At the onset of therapy, it is explained to a child that the play therapy room is their “world”, in which they are empowered to explore, make choices, and solve problems. Children draw upon their creativity to use the different toys and art supplies as a means of personal expression. They may create a scene in the sand tray or use dolls/figurines/puppets to act out internal conflicts or to tell stories. Sometimes they will choose structured play via board games, in which they practice rules, boundaries, and emotional regulation. Other times, a child will use art supplies to paint, draw or create pieces that reflect emotional states. Some children will choose to talk openly about their feelings, their relationships, and difficulties in their lives. The therapist uses reflective listening and tracking to validate the child and assist with the integration of themes revealed in play.
While play therapy uses individual sessions to focus on healing and empowering a child, parental support is vital to promote holistic growth. Therapists will encourage parents to participate in Parent Sessions to give them insight into their child, update them on the child’s progress and provide guidance/support. If family relationships are of primary concern, play therapy modalities may be used in conjunction with Family Therapy.
So what is TRUE play therapy? Simply stated, play therapy is to children what counseling is to adults. However, in order for therapy to be effective for a child, it must take into account the developmental differences between adults and children. While it is effective for an adult to sit and talk through issues for the therapeutic hour, the same would not be true for a child due to limited vocabulary, attention span and differences in processing.
For children, toys are their words, which makes play their language. At Two Hearts Counseling, you can be confident that we speak the language of your child.
Two Hearts Counseling values your children and invests in their therapeutic growth by providing a 300 square foot play room that gives them adequate space to truly express themselves. At the onset of therapy, it is explained to a child that the play therapy room is their “world”, in which they are empowered to explore, make choices, and solve problems. Children draw upon their creativity to use the different toys and art supplies as a means of personal expression. They may create a scene in the sand tray or use dolls/figurines/puppets to act out internal conflicts or to tell stories. Sometimes they will choose structured play via board games, in which they practice rules, boundaries, and emotional regulation. Other times, a child will use art supplies to paint, draw or create pieces that reflect emotional states. Some children will choose to talk openly about their feelings, their relationships, and difficulties in their lives. The therapist uses reflective listening and tracking to validate the child and assist with the integration of themes revealed in play.
While play therapy uses individual sessions to focus on healing and empowering a child, parental support is vital to promote holistic growth. Therapists will encourage parents to participate in Parent Sessions to give them insight into their child, update them on the child’s progress and provide guidance/support. If family relationships are of primary concern, play therapy modalities may be used in conjunction with Family Therapy.
Two Hearts Counseling specializes in the following services for children:
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