by Kristi Miller, MS, LPC-MH, Certified Theraplay®Therapist

Sometimes children have difficulty understanding or adjusting to challenging life situations. It can be highly frustrating and worrisome for parents/caregivers too.  Your child may need a skilled and trained therapist who has expert understanding of child therapy, and who is able to communicate effectively with you about your child's psychological and behavioral issues. This two-part article explains two types of play used to assist a child.

 

Play Therapy and Theraplay®   

My name is Kristi Miller, MS. I am a Certified Theraplay® Therapist providing Theraplay® sessions and play therapy techniques in my practice at Sioux Falls Psychological Services. I have 20 years of experience and continue to advocate and trust in the power of play. In Part 1 we will focus on the basics of Play Therapy.
 

Play Therapy

The Association of Play Therapy or APT celebrates Play Therapy Week February 7-13. This yearly event is an opportunity to educate communities about this dynamic, play-based, unique modality for children. Those participating may include Registered Play Therapists, Certified Theraplay®Therapists,  and licensed child counselors/social workers/psychologists using play therapy techniques in their practice.

Adults often find it helpful to talk with other adults when experiencing problems. However, children typically have difficulty expressing their feelings by just verbalizing.  Therefore, play in the context of therapy is a unique opportunity to play out their feelings/experiences in the presence of an understanding, objective, and trained therapist. By using various types of toys in the playroom, children can more adequately express feelings and concerns resulting in enhanced self-understanding, heightened ability to make sense of others, increased emotional regulation, and improved coping ability.

The Association of Play Therapy defines Play Therapy as "the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development."

Children age three and older are usually appropriate for play therapy.  The therapist may have a specific playroom designed to enhance the therapeutic process or use toys in an office. Child therapists intentionally choose toys that have therapeutic value.

Generally, most play modalities used by therapists categorize as "Nondirective" or "Directive." Some therapists choose to integrate both in their sessions.

In "Directive" play, the therapist guides or initiates the play/activities the child uses and engages in to attain a specific goal or process. The therapist utilizes an active role in the child's therapy experience and provides guidance. For example, the therapist may interact using a fire truck playset and dollhouse if a child experienced a housefire. Feeling card games initiated by a therapist can guide a child needing assistance with expressing feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT, Eyberg), Adlerian Play Therapy  (Kottman) and Theraplay (Jernberg and Booth) are specific examples of modalities generally using a more Directive approach.

"NonDirective play" (Axline and Landreth) allows the child to lead the play, choose toys, and develop play themes (which the therapist observes) as the child wishes (except for safety limits). The therapist reflects feelings, focuses, intermittently comments on (tracking) the child's actions, and continually accepts/supports the child.  For example, a child whose parents recently separated may choose the dollhouse in the playroom followed by shaking and spilling the contents due to a "tornado that broke the house." The Play Therapist who is actively observing the child may restate what the child said, adhering to the child's meaning and language (demonstrating attentive presence and complete acceptance). Reflecting feelings may also be utilized. Child-Centered Therapy (Landreth and Axline) and Filial Therapy (a Parent/Child Approach, B. and G. Guerney) are examples of Nondirective modalities.

Some therapists integrate Directive and Nondirective and utilize more than one modality in their work with children. Parents should ask questions about the therapist's credentials, play therapy experience/supervision, training in modality used, and understanding of typical child development. The Association of Play Therapy website can offer resources and information to assist you when seeking Play Therapy Information or a Trained Therapist (apt.org)   

Next week we will explore Theraplay® and its unique focus on the child and parent/caregiver relationship as a healing agent of change.