By Pablee Wong, MC, RCC, RMFT, RPT-S

What is Play Therapy?

Parents often ask what play therapy is and how play therapy can help dealing with their children’s behavioral and emotional problems. Play Therapy differs from regular play as well as regular “talk therapy”. When it comes to counselling children, the method we use is play therapy instead of talk therapy. Children are too young to articulate the intensity of their struggles with words. Therefore, “Play” will be the words and the medium for children to communicate their feelings and struggles at hand. With the use of selected materials & toys, and in a safe environment with necessary limits; the trained play therapist supports children to work through their struggles with their inner potentials and resources.

So… How does play therapy exactly work?

In play therapy, the play therapist facilitates the child in his play. The child will be assisted in making his own decisions, finding his own solutions, exploring other alternatives and learning to be creative. The child’s own pace in exploration and healing is respected. By not directing how the child should act, play therapy promotes:

  • Self Acceptance & Confidence
  • Responsibilities & adaptive behaviors
  • Cognitive development
  • Development of social and relational skills
  • Creativity & problem solving skills
  • Experience & expression of feelings
  • Empathy & Respect for others
  • Understanding & acceptance of past and current experiences

Why Play Therapy?

Another question parents often ask is “Who can benefit from play therapy”? Research actually shows that Play therapy can be effective with children experiencing a wide range of social, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems, including:

  • Anger, Aggression, & Acting out behaviors
  • Anxiety, Fears, Phobias & Timidity
  • Friendship & Social Setting challenges
  • School & Academic Difficulties
  • Self Concept & Self Esteem issues
  • Depression, Grief & Loss
  • Separation, Divorce and Family Dissolution
  • Foster Home & Adoption Experience
  • Crisis & Trauma; Child Abuse & Neglect
  • Physical Symptoms without medical reasons

There is actually a lot of learning children can experience through play. Play itself actually has a lot of meaning in childhood development – physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively.

Playing also allows children to experience different emotions and become familiar with them. By getting to know different emotions, children will learn that emotions are normal and will start learning to manage these emotions in a healthy way. There is a wide range of emotions that children may be exposed to. For instance, children may feel excited, happy, surprised, nervous or disappointed through playing a game.

Whether your child needs play therapy or not, playing is very important in his life to promote growth and maturity.

The Vancouver Wishing Wells Counselling Service provides counselling support for individuals, couples, children, and families in Greater Vancouver.  Our office is located in the Vancouver West Side - Oakridge area , accessible by Canada Line. Our counselling services include Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, Child Behaviour Consultation and Support, and Counselling for Adolescents. Should you need to discuss with one of our therapists for consultation, please Contact Us for more information.

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