Play therapy is a type of therapy that enables children to express themselves emotionally by using toys or playing different types of games. Children are not as good as adults at expressing their feelings and thoughts. Most of the time, they may not be aware of their feelings and thoughts, they may not be able to make sense of them, so it becomes difficult for them to express. Play is to children what speech is to adults. Play is a place for children to express themselves, discover their feelings, convey their experiences, express their wishes, and satisfy themselves. It is possible through games to understand their anger, fear, sadness and disappointment that affect their behavior. The toys and the game they set up are actually the situations they want to express. Thanks to play, children learn in a low-risk environment.
In play therapy, the task of the therapist is to provide unconditional acceptance and trust by accompanying the child’s emotional processes without judgment. For this process, which is based on the trust relationship of the child and the therapist, the room and toys in play therapy are also specially designed. The toys, each of which has different meanings than the other, help the child freely express the emotions that he finds difficult to express in daily life. The child heals his own story through metaphors and stories in the play he has set up. Play therapy supports social and emotional development and general well-being in addition to behavioral change in the child.
play therapy;
- to learn about the world they live in.
- to express their feelings and thoughts
- Develop their mental and physical skills
- Developing effective social skills
- How to deal with feelings they can’t handle
- It helps them to form strong bonds in relationships.
In Which Situations Is Play Therapy Used?
There are many situations where play therapy is needed. To summarize under headings; sleep and eating disorders, jealousy towards siblings, anxiety and obsession problems, depression at an early age, fear situations, persistence of aggressive behavior, sexual abuse, processes in death or divorce, hyperactivity, severe illness, trauma caused by exposure to violence, insecurity It is aimed to solve these problems in a professional way by getting therapy on issues such as social skills disorder and social skills disorder.
How Long Does Play Therapy Take?
This period varies from child to child. It differs according to the seriousness of the situation and how he perceives the events. The newer the problematic behavior, the easier it will be to overcome. Interviews are held with the parents during the process. Children may describe the time they spend in the playroom with their play therapist by saying, “We just played”, but in this process, children discover ways to cope with situations that pose problems for them as they learn new roles and behaviors.
