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Child Therapy
Play Therapy
Explore its Secrets and Benefits!
In the field of therapy, there's a unique and effective approach specifically designed for children: play therapy. Unlike traditional talk therapies, play therapy uses children's natural language - play - to help them express themselves and meet life's challenges. Here, we look at the principles of play therapy and the benefits and research behind it.
Revealing the Secrets of Children's Communication Difficulties:
How to Overcome these Obstacles
Communication Difficulties in Children
Research by renowned child psychologists such as Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky has shown that children's cognitive and language skills are still developing. As a result, they can find it difficult to express complex thoughts and emotions verbally.
For adults trying to communicate with children through words, whether in the family or in the professional world, this can also become very frustrating. Research shows that talking therapy can have a limited effect on children. This finding underlines the importance of Play Therapy, as it enables children to express themselves through non-verbal means.
Between Talking Therapy and
Play Therapy:
The Best Path to Self-fulfillment for Young People...
Talking Therapy or
Play Therapy for Young People?
Some child psychologists work with young people in talking therapy. While this type of therapy may be beneficial for some children, others may find a traditional therapeutic setting rather threatening. For them, it can even feel like an interrogation.
Indeed, for children, especially those aged 3 to 13, verbal expression can be difficult due to their stage of development. This is where creative play therapy fills a crucial gap. It offers children alternative ways of communicating and exploring their feelings.
The Hidden Power of Play: Exploring its Transformative Impact
The Natural Power of Play
Children are not miniature versions of adults. They are unique beings. They have their own way of understanding and expressing themselves. According to renowned child psychologist Garry Landreth, "play is a child's natural language, and toys are their words".
From birth, most children are intrinsically designed to play. Play is a natural resource for them. It's a natural part of children's learning and exploration, and it helps them to communicate better. Indeed, natural play is every child's right as a human being.
Unleashing Potential with
Child-Centered Play Therapy
Exploration and Growth through Child-Centered Therapeutic Play
Therapeutic play offers a child-centered approach to therapy. This therapeutic approach respects children's developmental stages, enabling them to develop problem-solving skills, manage their emotions and build resilience.
As defined by Gary Landreth in his reference book Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship, child-centered play therapy is "a dynamic interpersonal relationship between a child and a therapist". In addition to play, the safe and confidential nature of the therapeutic relationship is also very important for the child. Indeed, when working with a trusted adult trained in therapeutic play, children can safely explore their feelings, thoughts, experiences and behaviours. And, when children have confidence in the therapeutic relationship, they can process complex thoughts and emotions. All this greatly enhances their coping skills and facilitates their personal development.
Therapeutic Play Research
in Pictures
The Latest Advances in Therapeutic Play
Extensive research has shown that play therapy is effective in treating a wide range of difficulties in children. These difficulties can be :
social
emotional
behavioural
learning
For example, play therapy has been shown to be particularly beneficial for children undergoing life stresses such as :
divorce or separation
moving home
chronic illness in children
bereavement
trauma
Challenging Obstacles with
Non-Directive Play Therapy
Personal Growth for the Child through Non-Directive Play Therapy
Non-directive play therapy is a special type of play therapy. The child leads the session and, without directing or guiding the play, the therapist follows the child. Instead of imposing specific interventions or interpretations, the practitioner offers a safe and supportive environment and this supports the child so they can express themselves freely and safely.
One of the main advantages of non-directive play therapy is that it allows children to explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences at their own pace and in their own way. By giving children the autonomy to direct play, they can express themselves authentically and, in a natural and organic way, work on underlying issues. This approach can be particularly beneficial for children who have difficulty regulating their emotions or behavior.
The non-directive approach also fosters a sense of autonomy and self-confidence in children. By making decisions, they learn to trust their instincts and make choices that make sense to them. By having the freedom to express themselves without judgment or interference, they can develop a better understanding of themselves and their emotions. All this helps children to become more self-aware and regulate their emotions.
By participating in Non-Directive Play Therapy, children can learn to communicate their thoughts and feelings with greater ease. This can help them gain a better understanding of themselves, and also facilitate their social interaction.
Holistic Growth through
Child-Centered Play Therapy
Choosing Child-Centered Play Therapy to Support Your Child
By recognising and accepting children's natural tendency for play, parents can enable them to flourish in all aspects of their lives.
Incorporating Play Therapy into a child's life can have a transformative impact. By offering a natural, holistic and non-medicated approach to a child, you'll promote their emotional and behavioural well-being.
Thanks to neuroscience and practical research into therapeutic play, we are continuing to discover more benefits of this therapeutic approach for children. But, in summary, to date we can see that it is a very valuable tool for supporting the emotional development and general well-being of our children.
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