Play Therapy - What's all the Hype?
- Emma Klose
- Sep 6, 2023
- 3 min read
Play therapy. Not sure if it’s just me but play therapy seems to suddenly be EVERYWHERE. Just surrounding our own therapy rooms here in Hewett are at least 4 other play therapists in the Gawler/Barossa area (all very lovely and skilled practitioners). I of course love it but for those wondering… what’s all the hype?
A (VERY) QUICK HISTORY OF PLAY THERAPY
It feels important to acknowledge several key women in the development of play therapy before we do our deep dive - In the early 1900s, building on the work of a number of key child development theorists, Anna Freud and Melanie Klein saw play as a tool that could be used in place of speech in adult therapy and further, one that could reveal unconscious thoughts and feelings. Virginia Axline later advocated for play therapy in providing a secure child-therapist relationship which would allow a child to explore thoughts and feelings however they chose through play. She drew from the person-centred therapy work of Carl Rogers, and dubbed this “non-directive” play therapy. Non-directive or Child Centred Play Therapy has continued to be practiced in virtually the same way she developed still today. It’s been tried and tested over almost 70 years!
SO WHAT IS PLAY THERAPY?
Play therapy is a method of counselling or psychotherapy specifically for use with children. There are a number of different play therapy modalities in which a therapist practices in a slightly different way. At Thrive we are trained in Child Centred Play Therapy, Interplay and Filial Therapy. Other modalities or frameworks include Synergetic Play Therapy and AutPlay Therapy, to name a few.
What makes play therapy unique (and also mind-blowing to others) is that it looks VERY different to other forms of therapy. It is not uncommon at all for caregivers to wonder – is anything actually happening? The answer – most definitely! The beauty of play therapy is that the “intervention” is actually the therapeutic relationship between the child and therapist, the safety and structure provided in each session by the therapist and the responses given to the child led play.
When we talk about sessions being non-directive, they really are led by the child engaging in play with whichever toys or tools they wish – play is not directed by the therapist, there are no set activities – the child is in control. Of course we need to ensure everyone remains safe in the playroom (including our toys and furniture) so we can engage in limit setting if needed.
HOW DOES PLAY THERAPY WORK?
So many therapeutic interventions – especially with children, are about telling, doing and suggesting and there is absolutely a place for this work. A child with developmental delays is not in a position to make gains without an allied health professional telling, doing or suggesting alternate ways of doing things.
In play therapy however, we trust that the child knows where they need to go. During sessions as a therapist, we offer warmth, empathy and a gentle structure which allows children to make their own meaning through whichever play and exploration activities they choose. Once the child begins to recognise that sessions are a place where there are minimal expectations, they begin to explore what it feels like to be in control. The therapist always accepts and supports the child regardless of what they do in the playroom and concurrently the child plays out different scenarios, tries on different roles, explores new situations – adopting skills or strategies that are useful and letting go of those that are not!
WHO IS IT SUITABLE FOR AND WHAT CAN IT HELP WITH?
Play therapy is most suitable for children aged around 2 -12 years of age – naturally given different developmental trajectories it can still be used with older children (this is assessed on a case by case basis at Thrive) and there really is no limit as to what challenges it can assist with.
We see children who have experienced or are experiencing trauma, grief, anxiety, parental separation or school and social difficulties. It can be hard to believe that it can be so effective and it is completely evidence based!
We offer play therapy sessions for children aged 2 -12 years of age in our beautiful rooms in Hewett, South Australia. For more information you can email us at hello@thrivetherapeuticplay.com.au or reach out via DM on Instagram – we love to chat!
For more information about play therapy or to see what a play therapy session looks like check out these links below:
What is Play Therapy? – Video by Playful Pathways:
Play is the Child’s Language – Joanne Wicks TEDx (Joanne demonstrates the difference between adult led play and child led/non-directive play at the 5:25 minute mark):
Example of a Play Therapy Session – Video by Cary Hamilton:
REFERENCES