CHILD +
PLAY THERAPY
Our child + play therapy program starts at age 3 for
children dealing with behavioral or transitional issues.
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Play therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach primarily used to help children ages 3 to 12 explore their lives and freely express repressed thoughts and emotions through play. Therapeutic play normally takes place in a safe, comfortable playroom, where very few rules or limits are imposed on the child, encouraging free expression and allowing the therapist to observe the child’s choices, decisions, and play style. The goal is to help children learn to express themselves in healthier ways, become more respectful and empathetic, and discover new and more positive ways to solve problems.
When is Play Therapy Used?
Therapeutic play helps children with social or emotional deficits learn to communicate better, change their behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and relate to others in positive ways. It is appropriate for children undergoing or witnessing stressful events in their lives, such as a serious illness or hospitalization, domestic violence, abuse, trauma, a family crisis, or an upsetting change in their environment. Play therapy can help children with academic and social problems, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, anxiety, depression, grief, or anger, as well as those with attention deficit disorders or who are on the autism spectrum.
Play Therapy can benefit children, adolescents,
and families who are struggling with:
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Disruptive behavior
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Anxiety
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Depression
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School refusal
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Developmental disorders
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ADHD
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Impulse control issues
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Grief
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Trauma
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​Abuse
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​Overcoming traumatic experiences
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Building self-esteem
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Developing more mature, pro-social behaviors
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Adjustment to foster placement
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Adjustment to life changes such as divorce, moving, or the addition of a new sibling.