Play therapy is a therapy approach that aims to improve children’s cognitive, behavioral and emotional problems through play.
In play therapy, the therapist creates a safe space by following the child’s guidance and directions, and enters the child’s world by developing a trusting relationship with the child. Through play, the child expresses his/her feelings, thoughts, experiences and behaviors in a way he/she is most comfortable with. It is often difficult for children to talk about how they feel and how their experiences affect them, and in play therapy, toys become children’s words. .
Here, the game is the child’s language and an effective means of expression, and it also has therapeutic importance as well as the child’s education and development. The play environment gives important clues to the therapist following him about the child’s personal characteristics. Thanks to the therapeutic feature of play therapy, the child experiences emotional purification by performing an action that he cannot perform in real life, in a play environment, and thus relaxes. Play therapy helps the child get rid of the tension created by the stimuli he receives from his environment in daily life. In play therapy, the emotions and conflicts that the child experiences in his inner world (fear, anger, anger, disappointment, etc.) are transferred to toys and games. Here, play therapy enables the child to express his/her feelings in appropriate ways, to develop problem-solving skills, to reduce problem behaviors, to resolve internal conflicts, to express himself/herself, to increase self-confidence, to develop self-control, and to take responsibility for his/her behaviors.
Therapist with Play Therapy; It can establish a therapeutic relationship with the child, understand the child’s inner world, help the child express himself through play, help the child understand events, develop coping skills and develop a positive self-perception. The most suitable age range for play therapy is 3-12.
IN WHICH SITUATIONS IS PLAY THERAPY USED?
-Anxiety disorders; Childhood fears (being alone, fear of the dark, fear of animals, etc.)
-Depression,
-Sleeping disorders; Nightmares etc.
-Nutrition Problems,
-Behavioral disorders
-Bed-wetting, stool incontinence,
-Nail sucking-finger sucking,
-Sister jealousy
-Behavioral disorder
-Loss, grief, trauma,
-Parental separation; adaptation problems after divorce etc.
-Low self esteem
-Anger control issues
-Exposure to domestic violence
