Psychological therapy is a valuable tool for helping adults deal with mental health issues, trauma, and other problems that affect their behavior and well-being. Children also benefit from therapy for a variety of issues, but finding a workable method of communication for complex thoughts and emotions can be challenging for them. Play therapy offers techniques to allow children to explore ways to express themselves and explore new concepts, which can help them deal with a wide variety of problems that may arise.
1 – Dealing With Medical Problems
Children being treated for serious medical issues can often be overwhelmed by the experiences they must undergo. The complex medical terminology, constant examinations, invasive procedures, physical discomfort, and concern of their parents can create a tense, anxiety-producing atmosphere that can be detrimental to both the health and the well-being of children. Exploring the complex fears and questions can help reduce stress for children undergoing medical treatment.
2 – Traumatic Events
Critical events like natural disasters, school shootings, accidents, and other events can be traumatic for adults, and children may have even more difficulty processing these experiences. They often have emotions, thoughts, and fears that can leave them feeling overwhelmed, depressed, or anxious. Play therapy allows children who have gone through traumatic events to work out the experience in a manner of their choosing, in which they can be guided to examine the event in ways that are meaningful to the young mind.
3 – Life Changes – Divorce and Death
Disruptive events such as divorce can lead to severe stress in children. Play therapy allows them to find ways to talk about their feelings and anxieties about their changed family situation in a safe and positive environment. Similarly, the loss of a parent, sibling, or other loved one can lead to many emotional and behavioral reactions that play therapy can help to ameliorate.
4 – Aggressive Behaviors and Anger
Destructive impulses may be caused by the individual psychological makeup of the child or by external factors. Play therapy helps children find alternative behaviors that are socially acceptable to express their displeasure or frustration so that they can avoid the negative consequences of aggressive actions and enjoy greater self-control and social acceptance.
5 – Grief Therapy
The loss of a parent, sibling, grandparent, or close friend can be a devastating event for a small child, who may not have experienced a death close to him or her before. They may not have the language or emotional understanding to process what they are feeling, which can result in depression, anxiety, sleep problems, and behavioral problems. Anger and withdrawal are common reactions. Play therapy allows kids to work out their feelings of loss and confusion in a structured way that doesn’t rely on complex language or ideas.
6 – Developmental Delays and Learning Disabilities
Play therapy can be helpful for children experiencing developmental delays or learning disabilities that make them feel out of step with their peers. It can be a helpful adjunct to more practical therapies that support academic education and social interaction.
7 – Depression and Anxiety
Some children are genetically inclined toward depression and anxiety. Others may experience these mental health issues as a result of external events. During play therapy,a therapist can help the child explore ways to both recognize and manage these emotions, which allows them to regulate their behavior more effectively in daily life.
8 – Autism Spectrum Disorder
Children on the autism spectrum have difficulty reading social cues and managing their emotional reactions. Play therapy gives them a safe space to explore their internal world with play activities they choose and within a time frame that is most comfortable for them. During play therapy, the therapist can share the experiences of the autistic child to better help them process the sensations and emotions they experience throughout the day.
Play therapy can be a valuable technique for helping children cope with overwhelming experiences that cause them distress and anxiety. Trained therapists can utilize the accessible activities and relaxed atmosphere of the technique to encourage children to define their experiences and explore their emotions at their own pace.
