Play Therapy

Why Play?

Children communicate through play. Play is the child's language and is a fun, enjoyable activity that elevates our spirits and brightens our outlook on life. Play therapy allows children to express themselves freely without needing the vocabulary that adults have in a typical talk therapy. It expands self-expression, self-knowledge, self-actualization and self-efficacy. Play relieves feelings of stress and boredom, connects us to people in a positive way, stimulates creative thinking and exploration, regulates our emotions, and boosts our ego (Landreth, 2002). In addition, play allows us to practice skills and roles needed for survival.

Who Benefits from Play Therapy?

Although everyone benefits, play therapy is especially appropriate for children ages 3 through 12 years old.

Play therapy helps children:

That their feelings are acceptable
Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies.
Respect themselves
Develop new and creative solutions to problems.
Express their feelings responsibly
Develop respect and acceptance of self and others.
Learn to experience and express emotions.
Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others.
Learn new social skills and relational skills with family.
Acceptance of themselves
Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities.
Be responsible for their own choices

Synergetic Play Therapy:
Synergetic Play Therapy is the first research-informed model to blend neuroscience, attachment/attunement, therapist authenticity, physics, emotional congruence, nervous system regulation, and mindfulness/mindsight. While adults find relief in talking about their difficulties, children often cannot express their thoughts and feelings in words. Therefore, it is helpful for children to express themselves naturally through play. Play therapy allows children to recreate experiences in therapy that remind them of past or current challenges. In this controlled setting, our therapists help children become fully aware of their physical sensations, emotions, thoughts, and interactions with others. The therapist then teaches and models new ways the child can think about or respond to their challenges. Once the child begins to realize and try on these new choices, the therapist highlights these cognitive and behavioral changes to reinforce the pattern in the child’s brain and nervous system.

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