Play Therapy

When it comes to challenging behavior, there are many different reasons as to why children can begin to act out. These reasons may be due to their unmet needs, or their desire to get attention that they may not otherwise be getting. Although many think that they may act out because that is what they see at home, or because of problems at home or within their family, parenting is generally not the problem. Children often have a hard time expressing their feelings and emotions, and if there are any types of developmental or physical impairments or delays, this can lead to even more frustration, thus triggering these outbursts. Since there are many different reasons as to why a child could be acting out, there are many different methods and approaches

The field of child counseling has been enriched through the integration of play therapy within different therapeutic approaches, as this method allows children to express thoughts and feelings that they might not be able to convey any other way due to their limited vocabulary (Henderson & Thompson, 2016). Over the past eight years, MacGill (2017) has built both her private practice, as well as functioned as a school counselor for students with special needs, MacGill demonstrates each day the many ways that play therapy can be integrated with several different therapeutic approaches as a method of building rapport and gaining a better understanding of each child’s mental health needs. MacGill is a Licensed Clinical

Play therapy: therapy in which emotionally disturbed children are encouraged to act out their fantasies and express their feeling through play, aided by a therapist interpretations. Not only children can unitized play therapy but also adults also can benefits from the effects of play. Because play is not just for children but for all humans. Play is a fundamental action that humans engaging, or at least should engage, in everyday. Since play leads to the emotions of happiness which makes people feel good. So main point play or play therapy can help stressed, burnout, play defiant and emotionally disturbed adults through these

This assignment is all about play and learning for children and young people. Play is engaging in an activity for enjoyment and pleasure however can also be used for learning purposes and development in children and young people. Play activities can be planned by practitioners within the setting or can be free-play, when a child goes off and plays by themselves. Play can be carried out individually or in groups and can also be carried out in different environments such as indoors and outdoors. ‘Research confirms the importance of play for infants in developing children’s brains and minds.’ (http://playtherapy.org.uk/ChildrensEmotionalWellBeing/AboutPlayTherapy/MainPrinciples/PlayDefinition) this is why practitioners encourage young children

If play is a child's language, then toys can be taken as the words. With play therapy the child can resolve their difficulties and concerns utilizing the toys that they pick, exposing their inner thoughts and discussions. With play the child has the ability to check out numerous circumstances and habits in a supportive environment. Genuine favorable regard and approval urges the child to feel safe adequate to be able to discover

Haslam, D., Harris, S. (2011). Integrating Play and Family Therapy Methods: A Survey of Play

According to a leading expert in Play Therapy, Landreth (2014) believes firmly that the focus of therapy needs to be on the child not on the client, and children are the best teachers for the

The integrated model provides many advantages for children. Play-based activities encourage children to work through their thoughts and feelings. Children are more likely to participate in the process when given toys rather than sitting on the couch. Another advantage is that it “offers the child a powerful way of mastering his or her world and is crucial to cognitive development, personality formation, and social adaptation” (Wehrman & Field 2013). Play itself is important in child development. With the addition of play in therapy, children will be able to lean and develop even more. Counselors can apply there skills while interacting with children.

It is essential to take into account the socio-cultural environment the child evolves in prior taking

Play Therapy eases communication, provide creative solutions, and reconnect a child to their normal life style. Play therapy plays a big part of hospitalized children’s stay. It is a phenomenal treatment tool for children. Most researchers encourage play therapy and believe that it should be utilized within hospital facility. Play therapy brings a close communicational relationship between the child and therapist. It is a healthy development for children mental development. Play helps create interpersonal skills, enhance creativity and power. Play is a body, mind and soul connection that reaches a child’s need to communicate without words. Play teaches a child how to adapt. It enables a child to master anxiety, externalized problems and conflicts, rehearse new solutions, and turn from passive to active roles in conflict resolution. (Kaminski, Pellino, Wish, 2002) The goal of play therapy is to help children with self-control to understand and cope with illness, surgery, hospitalization, treatments, and procedures. Also, the goals of play therapy meet the emotional needs of children in the hospital by getting to know your child, giving him or her a chance to express himself or herself, and allowing him or her to adjust to being in the hospital through play

Ray, Bratton, Rhine, and Jones. (2001). The Effectiveness of Play Therapy: Resopnding to the Critics. International Journal of Play Therapy, 10(1), 85-108.

This article is recent, published within a peer-reviewed journal. The author-conducted research is empirical, qualitative and phenomenologically designed, uniquely enabling children to describe their play therapy experiences and identify factors that influence these experiences.

The child may be afraid to speak, and afraid of becoming the target of anger for speaking without approval. This is due in part to not being spoken to by adults or experiencing meaningful discussion with adults. The child cries easily and often. The child’s world is so chaotic the child cannot handle ordinary stress. The child usually has not witnessed appropriate ways of dealing with stress. The child will act out aggressively toward peers and adults. The child models the aggressive behavior observed in the home, and when playing with others. The child will have an inability to play constructively. There is a lot of throwing or kicking, and possible destruction of toys. Many children have not been shown how to play and interact with other children. Children are working out their frustration and worry in play (http://www.uen.org). The child will show inconsistent or inappropriate display of emotions. Abuse can result in the child not learning appropriate emotional responses, as well as not being in touch with their true feelings.

Along with the many types of play, there are also a few functions of play. One of the functions of play is the ability to master anxieties and conflicts. Playing can relieve tension because of the relaxed setting and atmosphere. This also helps with coping with problems. Building with blocks and knocking them down is a great example of how play can relieve tension. This is fun and it lets the child show emotion. Another function of play is that it can work off excess energy. This is especially useful and important with children with ADHD. They have symptoms of hyperactivity and inability to concentrate, so play can help improve these issues by getting energy out and relieving any anxieties or tensions. Any kind of play can help children work off frustration and cope with their feelings. This is a form of play therapy. It is a simple way of kicking back and relaxing; doing something you enjoy. This can mean so many things such as coloring or playing with play doh.

The primary aim of the gestalt play therapist is to help children become aware of their unique process. The focus is on the experience of the process, what children do and how they do it, which they are, what they feel and what they want. Acceptance of this leads to the realization that they can personally make choices and experiment with new behavior. Gestalt play therapy focuses on children’s direct experience in the here and now. The therapist’s goal is to facilitate the client’s awareness of their process. (Corey, 2000)