What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a highly specialized form of psychotherapy with decades of research supporting its efficacy as a mental health intervention. Play Therapy is defined by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained Play Therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development." APT states that “Play Therapy should only be provided by licensed clinical mental health professionals with a graduate mental health degrees and extensive specialized play therapy education, training and supervised experience.” Play therapy is effective regardless of age, gender, or the nature of the problem, and works best when a parent, family member, or caretaker is actively involved in the treatment process.
An introduction to how children communicate through play (credit: Association for Play Therapy)
The Importance of Play Therapy (credit: Association for Play Therapy)
Play Therapy is based upon the fact that play is the child's natural medium of self-expression. It is an opportunity which is given to the child to 'play out' his feelings and problems just as, in certain types of adult therapy, an individual 'talks out' his difficulties.
— Virginia Axline, psychologist and pioneer in play therapy
Play is a child’s natural way of communicating their awareness of themselves and others.
— Garry Landreth, founder of Center for Play Therapy at University of North Texas
Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.