Clouds Psychotherapy & Play Therapy 2.68

Play and its Importance

Play is the most important thing a child can do as when a child plays they are functioning at their optimum level of development. It is important to understand that through play, children will develop self confidence, a positive self image, a healthy way to express emotion and develop coping strategies to tackle real life situations.

What is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy offers a child a safe space where they can play out their thoughts and emotions just as adults in therapy will talk out their difficulties. Using the therapeutic powers of play, the play therapist will facilitate optimal growth and development for the child, as well as helping the child to achieve a resolution for a range of emotional and developmental difficulties. Play therapy promotes resiliency and assists children to develop holistically and increase their emotional intelligence.
There is a vast difference between a child’s play in typical “Play environments’ and play therapy. The sessions build a structured and quality relationship between the therapist and child, and the child provides opportunities for therapeutic healing and repair. This transforms play into play therapy. The therapist is an informed container of the child’s therapeutic work providing a unique understanding of the child’s inner world.

What Children attend Play Therapy?

Any child can benefit from Play Therapy. It promotes self-confidence, creativity, imagination, communication, concentration, problem solving skills, and self esteem. Most importantly, play therapy promotes the happiness and well being of the child.
Play therapy is suitable for children from the age of 3 years old, and there is no upper age limit. Play therapy can be particularly useful in teens, where creative psychotherapy is introduced more prominently.
Possible referral issues may include:
• Behavioral issues
• Bullying behaviors
• Trauma
• Bereavement or loss
• Communication difficulties
• Anxiety
• Poor play skills
• Family disruptions
• Parental separation
• Educational delays
• Low self esteem
• Abuse or neglect
• Relationship difficulties
• Delayed development.
Play therapists utilize play as a means of treating or preventing psychological disorders and well as helping children to overcome issues associated with ASD, ADHD, SPD, Dyspraxia or any speech and language difficulties.