Much research over the past decades shows the effectiveness of common counselling approaches for adults and adolescents that rely on talking through cognitions and complex emotional states. In short, talking helps. Although these cognitive approaches can be effective for older individuals, Perryman and colleagues (2020) showed how these approaches are not developmentally appropriate for most children under the age of 9 years old. Just as we expect math and gym classes to be developmentally appropriate for our kids’ minds and bodies, counselling also needs to meet kids where they are at. As an alternative to talk-heavy approaches for adults, a developmentally appropriate approach for supporting children ages three and up is play therapy.
Play therapy recognizes and embraces the powerful communicative and healing opportunities channeled through play. Young children often do not have the language needed to share with others what they are thinking and feeling, but they are able to help share these experiences through how they play and interact with others. Through a play therapy lens, children help set up those around them to experience what they are experiencing internally. Children may use toys, stories, language, and behaviour to help share these experiences. For example, a child experiencing feelings of frustration may share this experience with their caregiver(s) by appearing to ignore their requests, engaging in temper tantrums, and pushing back on boundaries. In this moment, the child is brilliantly communicating their feelings and inviting the caregiver to experience it with them.
Children may invite others into their experiences as a way to help them learn how to navigate and regulate when these thoughts and feelings occur. How others respond during these interactions provides models to the child on how to respond in the future when similar experiences occur. In the counselling space, play therapists try to create a safe and welcoming atmosphere, build the therapeutic relationship, observe what the child is presenting through their play, reflect their observations, invite curiosity, and model regulation strategies. A regulation strategy is something, such as a deep breathing exercise, we do that helps calm the body and mind with the goal of increasing our ability to handle difficult thoughts and emotions. Some strategies a play therapist may use in the counselling space include engaging in sand play, creating art, playing games, storytelling, and playing with toys.
Play therapy can be an impactful counselling approach for children experiencing feelings of anxiousness, sadness, confusion, and frustration. Additionally, play therapy can be helpful when children are experiencing concerns relating to trauma, grief and loss, change, self-confidence, conflict management, communication, attention, and regulation (Parker et al., 2021; Wong et al., 2023).
Please feel free to reach out if you are interested in exploring how play therapy may fit for the individual needs of your child.
References
Parker, M. M., Hergenrather, K., Smelser, Q., & Kelly, C. T. (2021). Exploring child-centered play therapy and trauma: A systematic review of literature. International Journal of Play Therapy, 30(1), 2–13. https://doi.org/10.1037/pla0000136
Perryman, K. L., Robinson, S., Bowers, L., & Massengale, B. (2020). Child-centered play therapy and academic achievement: A prevention-based model. International Journal of Play Therapy, 29(2), 104-117. https://doi-org.lc.idm.oclc.org/10.1037/pla0000117
Wong, T., Chang, Y., Wang, M., & Chang, Y. (2023). The effectiveness of child-centered play therapy for executive functions in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 28(3), 877-894. https://doi.org/10.1177/13591045221128399
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