How does play therapy work?
Play therapy is an amazing child-led, evidence-based modality for children (between 3 and 12 years), that focuses on the child, their relationships and their experiences, drawing on interpersonal neurobiology and understanding of child development. Play therapy may allow your child to experience and process their feelings and needs, at their own pace, using play as their most natural form of language and they use toys as their words.
What issues can play therapy address?
Through the power of play we address a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and social challenges that children may face, including anxiety, trauma, grief, self-esteem issues and more. By fostering a non-judgemental and empathetic environment, we empower children to explore their emotions, build resilience, enhance their problem-solving abilities, and develop healthy coping strategies.
Is play therapy suitable for teenagers?
Further, play therapy is a proven approach that can be adapted to work with teens. Baggerly, Ray and Bratton (2010) provide an overview of research including meta-analytic reviews that show the effectiveness of play therapy for participants ranging from 3 to 17 years. The impact of treatment resulting in positive outcomes highlighted those participants self-efficacy increased significantly.