Round Rock, TX—Play Therapy
What Is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is not just play but a comfortable arena for children to heal.
“Play is the child’s symbolic language of self-expression and can reveal
(a) what the child has experienced
(b) reactions to what was experienced
(c) feelings about what was experienced
(d) what the child wishes, wants, or needs
(e) the child’s perception of self.”
– Garry L. Landreth, Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship
Play therapy is a systematic approach to allow a child to heal at their speed in a safe place. It utilizes an array of tools to hold the healing space for a child as they explore their emotions. Play therapy utilizes not only toys, but crafts, sand play, creativity, games, each other and the family unit. A play therapist can work as a family counselor, including the whole family in the journey.
Play therapy is not the same as regular, everyday play. While spontaneous play is a natural and essential part of the developmental process, play therapy is a systematic and therapeutic approach. Play therapists are licensed mental health professionals with extensive training, supervision, and education in play therapy.
Play therapy can be used to treat children with a variety of issues. In particular:
- Physical or emotional trauma
- Conflict and/or bullies
- Being punished by authority figures
- Behavioral or conduct issues
- Physical, emotional, sexual abuse
- Difficulty coping
- Anxiety, depression, sadness
- Difficulties with others
If you have a child in the Round Rock area that you think could benefit from therapy, please give us a call at 512-212-7045 and we can discuss if we can be helpful. Children have a difficult time, with a lot of new (and occasionally confusing) experiences. As children are not fully able to help themselves, they depend on us (adults) to get them the help they need. Give us a call, or book a session online and let us try to help.
