Play Therapy for Children
Children see the world through a lens that most of us can only dream of. Magical characters, bright and vibrant colors, loud but funny music everywhere, and everything that surrounds them is bigger and taller. From the ages of 3-12, children’s imaginations, personalities, moods, and behaviors are all developing rapidly and play therapy is an excellent choice to combat issues that may impact your child’s development.
Play therapy can be incredibly helpful in the following areas of a child’s life, but aren’t limited to:
- Understanding & Expressing Emotions: Through play therapy, children learn to identify and express their feelings in a safe and supportive environment, helping them manage emotions like anger, fear, or sadness effectively.
- Building Healthy Social Skills: Play therapy fosters the development of critical social skills such as sharing, empathy, and cooperation, giving children tools to navigate relationships with peers and family.
- Boosting Self-Esteem & Confidence: Play therapy helps children build confidence in their abilities and develop a positive self-image, empowering them to tackle challenges with resilience and determination.
- Processing Trauma & Loss By creating a space for creative expression, play therapy allows children to process difficult experiences like trauma or grief in a way that feels safe and non-threatening.
Play therapy offers a safe place to play out, rather than talk out, their thoughts, feelings and problems. One of our experienced therapists chooses toys that encourage “fantasy play,” such as clay, sand, water, drawing materials, or puppets. There are toys as well to support a child playing out real life scenarios. Through these initial sessions, an emphasis on trust and support is being built where the child feels comfortable opening up, through play, about things they may have experienced with their therapist.
During a child therapy session, very few limits are set and your child is given complete freedom to control their own play and actions. At Steadfast Christian Counseling, we provide a protective yet empowering environment that encourages a child to lead their therapist to the source of their emotional disturbance through their play. Our therapists are trained to employ developmentally appropriate techniques that help your little one to let go of negative or restrictive feelings and create new, personalized coping skills that can be fun, and effective, in real life.
Outcomes of successful play therapy lead to increased quality family time, less emotional or behavioral outbursts at school and home, and a visible change in your child’s confidence, self- esteem and ability to navigate tough situations. If you think your child would benefit from play therapy, contact us today for a consultation.
Child- Centered Play Therapy at Steadfast for Children 3 and up
Though adults often express and work through their emotions using words, children use the language of play to process their emotional experiences. According to the Association for Play Therapy, play allows
children to: “build trust and mastery, foster learning and acceptable behaviors, regulate emotions, reduce anxieties, promote creative thinking and problem-solving, encourage open communication, and elevate their spirit and self-esteem” (APT, 2022).
Play is the child’s language, and this is why play therapy is the medium for healing in children.
In the playroom, children are offered a safe space where they can be themselves with both acceptance and limits, while processing through difficult emotions or experiences. God has gifted children with their own language of play to assist in the healing of their emotional wounds. What a gift to witness and help facilitate this healing in play therapy!
Play therapy at Steadfast
Though adults often express and work through their emotions using words, children use the language of play to process their emotional experiences.
According to the Association for Play Therapy, play allows children to: “build trust and mastery, foster learning and acceptable behaviors, regulate emotions, reduce anxieties, promote creative thinking and problem-solving, encourage open communication, and elevate their spirit and self-esteem” (APT, 2022).
Play is the child’s language, and this is why play therapy is the medium for healing in children. In the playroom, children are offered a safe space where they can be themselves with both acceptance and limits, while processing through difficult emotions or experiences. God has gifted children with their own language of play to assist in the healing of their emotional wounds. What a gift to witness and help facilitate this healing in play therapy!
