Clear Minded Counseling
Elly Keller, MA, LPC-MH, NCC
Owner & Licensed Clinical Therapist
Play Therapy
What is Play Therapy?
Toys are the child's words!
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Play therapy encompasses a variety of treatment methods that leverage the therapeutic benefits of play. Unlike regular play, play therapy involves a trained therapist who helps children address and resolve their own problems by building on the natural way they learn about themselves and their relationships (Axline, 1947; Carmichael, 2006; Landreth, 2002).
Through this process, children learn to communicate, express feelings, modify behavior, and develop problem-solving skills. Play provides a safe psychological distance from their challenges, allowing for development-appropriate expression.
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) 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."
How Will Play Therapy Benefit A Child?
Play Therapy is used for wide range of social, emotional, and behavioral disorders, such as anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and grief.
Research consistently supports the effectiveness of play therapy for children facing life stressors like divorce, chronic illness, or domestic violence. Specifically, play therapy helps children:
- Take responsibility for their behaviors and develop successful coping strategies.
- Find creative solutions to problems.
- Develop self-respect and empathy for others.
- Learn to express emotions healthily.
- Improve social and relational skills within the family.
- Build self-efficacy and confidence in their abilities.
Meta-analytic reviews of over 100 outcome studies have found that play therapy produces moderate to high positive treatment effects regardless of age or gender. Notably, these positive outcomes are greatest when a parent is actively involved in the child's treatment.