What is play therapy?

I am a Registered Play Therapist supervisor and I often get the question, “So you just play with kids?” or “Do you just watch them play?” After 7 years of educational training specializing in play therapy, I do not just watch a child play, here is what I do from a theoretical perspective.

What is play therapy?

The purpose of play therapy is to allow the child the conditions and the relationship to release their inner world in an expressive way that is appropriate for their cognitive and emotional development.   Virginia Axline, a student of Carl Rogers, applied the client-centered approach to working with children and developed child-centered play therapy. Axline (1947/1969) stated, “Play therapy is based upon the fact that play is the child’s natural medium of self-expression” (p. 9). From a child- centered play therapists’ perspective, play is the therapeutic process. Self- directed play and the relationship are the vehicles of change, toys are the children’s words and play is their language (Landreth, 2002). The purpose of play and process of change occurs within the child, Landreth (1993) stated, “The relationship that develops and the creative forces this relationship releases in the child generate the process of change and growth for the child” (p. 20). Therefore the child through play in a safe environment awakens his or her inner ability to self- direct and self- evaluate (Moustakas, 1997). The purpose of play is for the child to rediscover their inner wisdom and use their inner voice to deal with the unpredictable world around them.

How is structure created in the play room and will my child benefit from you sitting there?

                In child- centered play therapy, the child leads and the therapist follows. The structure is to provide safety, freedom, and self- control through limit setting, self-directed play, and returning responsibility (Landreth, 2002). According to Axline (1955) the purpose of structure is, “If the child experiences consistent, predictable boundaries of time and place, he gains a sense of stability and security” (p. 128). According to Landreth (2002), the play therapist can structure the relationship with the child in the play room by the choices of their words, for example by introducing the play room and concluding the session. By the therapist nonverbal communication, structure in the relationship is also communicated to the child. Landreth (2002) stated, “Because this is the child’s time, the therapist should now sit down, further communication to the child willingness to allow the child to lead” (p. 183). The therapist also structures by maintaining and respecting the child’s boundaries in the play room. The therapist only physically gets near the child or interacts in the child’s play when the child invites the therapist to interact in his/her play. Lastly, a child- centered play therapist does not push a child to talk or play in an attempt to fulfill the therapist’s agenda or need. Contrarily the therapist is accepting of the child’s feelings and validates the child’s feelings despite whether the child sits in the corner and chooses to not speak and play or not (Landreth, 2002). Therefore structure is to provide a sense of safety and security in the relationship with the child.

How does change occur in play therapy?

The therapist provides warmth and understanding through empathic reflections. Due to the therapeutic relationship being so crucial in child- centered play therapy, the therapist’s role is communication of; “I am here”, “I hear you”, “I understand”, and “I care about you” (Landreth, 1993). The therapist has a non-judgmental and accepting way of being. The child- centered therapist trusts the child’s intrinsic motivation toward self- actualization and more importantly understands the child’s perception of reality with respect (Landreth, 1993). The child-centered play therapist trusts that distressing feelings will be resolved within the child and unconsciously manifested without the therapist manipulation or education (Moustakas, 1997). Therefore the main role of the therapist is trust that within the child is an innate ability to affect his or her own healing through the power of the therapeutic relationship.

References:

Axline, V. (1947). Play Therapy: The Inner Dynamics of Childhood. Cambridge, MA: Houghton Mifflin.

Axline, V. (1955). Play therapy procedures and results. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 25, 618-626.

Landreth, G. (1993). Child-centered play therapy. Elementary School Guidance & Counseling, 28 (1), 17-29.

Landreth, G. (2002). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (2^nd ed.). New York: Brunner-Routledge.

Moustakas, C. E. (1997). Relationship play therapy. Northvale, NJ: Aronson.