Play Therapies

Play therapy as one of the most common therapy for children

1. Dr Neeta Gupta Associate Professor Department of psychology Certified Practitioner of EFT & REBT (London) & CBT (Scotland) DAV PG College Dehradun Play-Therapy

2. Play therapy is a form of therapy used primarily for children. That’s because children may not be able to process their own emotions or articulate problems to parents or other adults. A trained therapist can use playtime to observe and gain insights into a child’s problems. The therapist can then help the child explore emotions and deal with unresolved trauma. Through play, children can learn new coping mechanisms and how to redirect inappropriate behaviors . Although everyone benefits, play therapy is especially appropriate for children  ages 3 through 12 years old

3. What kind of problems is play therapy effective for? It is particularly effective for children who have: Experienced physical or emotional trauma Experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse Witnessed conflict or have been bullied Been severely punished by teachers or authority figures Experienced significant life changes (loss of parents, parents’ divorce or separation from family) Issues with anxiety or sadness Trouble coping with their immediate environment

4. Children learn to understand the world and their place in it through play. It’s where they’re free to act out their inner feelings and deepest emotions. Toys can act as symbols and take on greater meaning — if you know what to look for. Much can be revealed in how a child interacts with different types of toys and how their behavior changes from session to session. Play therapists use these observations as a guide to the next steps. Each child is different, so therapy will be tailored to their individual needs.

5. Tracking behavior is the most basic of play therapist responses. The therapist  tracks behaviour when he or she verbally responds to the behaviour of the child simply by stating what is seen or observed . Tracking behaviour allows the child to know that the therapist is interested and accepting.

6. Play Therapy Technique Role Play Therapy Creative Art Play Therapy Metaphors and Storytelling Other Play Therapy Genogram Toy and Object Play Therapy Imagery and Fantasy Play Therapy

7. Metaphors and Storytelling Emotion Thermometer Mutual Storytelling Turtle Technique Bibliotherapy

8. Metaphors and Storytelling 1.Emotion Thermometer The children are given a makeshift “emotion thermometer” with a range of emotions from 0 (smiley face) to 10 ( frowning face). The play therapist instructs the children to list events and how they feel about it then indicate points on the thermometer. Some questions to ask: What makes you feel like a smiling face? What makes you sad or frowny? What makes you relax and enjoy doing ?”

9. 2. Mutual Storytelling The first step in the mutual storytelling technique is to elicit a fictional self-created story from the client . The story needed to be from their own imagination, and it was against the rules to tell a story about anything that really happened, anything they read or heard about, or anything they saw on television or in a movie. The story must also include a moral or lesson . When the client has finished telling a story, it is important for the counselor to ask about the moral or lesson of the story. The counselor may also ask for a title to the story or which characters the client relates to, even who the client would or would not like to be  .

10. 3.Turtle Technique A therapist might give a client a turtle puppet, and explain that when the turtle is upset about something it stops, goes into its shell, closes its eyes, and takes three deep breaths . The client can then play out this process with the turtle puppet, and this can help the client learn anger-management techniques ( Schneider & Robin, 1974 ).

11. 4.Bibliotherapy the therapist might find a story or book that involves a problem similar to the client’s problem, and that provides a solution to this problem. While reading this story with the client, the therapist might ask questions relating the story to the client’s life, such as, “Have you ever felt this way ?”.  

12. Creative Art Play Therapy Colour Your Life Play Therapy Draw a Family PlayTherapy Clay Play Therapy

13. Creative Art Play Therapy 1.Colour Your Life Play Therapy: The " Color Your Life" technique, a form of play therapy, is designed to  help children become aware of the range of feelings possible , to talk about their own feelings and to move from action to verbal forms of expression . Give the child and their family enough pieces the candy and let them sort them out by color . Instruct them, depending on the number of colors , to respond to the following prompts; Green – Use words to describe the family Orange – What needs to be improved in the family set up Red – Representing what worries them Yellow – Describe their favorite memories Purple – To describe fun activities the family does

14. 2.Clay Play Therapy: Clay play therapy allows the child to show their creativity while expressing what they feel inside. When sculpting, the technique help children relieve stress. They use art skills to sculpt characters who maybe contribute to their mental health disorder. Therapists gather information from the interaction and use it to offer solutions . 3.Draw a Family Play Therapy In the draw a family therapy session , the client to draw a picture of their family. The

15. psychiatrist as questions based on the drawing to understand what every family member represents to the child, how they affect them and make them feel. The way they draw each family member reveals how they affect them, and this play therapy help children speak out hidden emotions.

16. Role Play Therapy Super Hero Play Puppet Play Role Play Costume play Mask Play

17. Role Play Therapy 1.Super Hero Play : the therapist might ask the client to draw a superhero with superpowers that the client would like to have. The therapist can then help the client figure out how their  personal strengths  can be as useful as these superpowers  2. Puppet Play: Puppets are excellent tools for play therapy. A unique technique is the  Family Puppet Interview . The therapist presents the children and their families with puppets, then asks them to each choose a puppet representing each member .

18. The child and their family narrate a story using the puppets. While at it, the councilor interviews individual family members about the story and then opens up the discussion to the whole group. This helps reveal family dynamics the child might be unwilling to talk about freely. Communication using puppets has helped clients struggling with selective mutism .

19. 3.Role-Play For example, the therapist and client might role-play a situation the client is anxious about, such as the first day of school, so that the child can work out what they feel anxious about and possibly realize they do not need to be anxious at all. For example, a bully at school might instill fear, but role-playing makes the child understand the bullying has Nothing to do with them .

20. 4.Costume Play For example, the therapist and client might pretend that the client is being crowned the new king or queen of a land. The therapist can then ask what the new king or queen wants to do with their power, to figure out what the client likes and dislikes. 5.Mask Play For example, the therapist might ask the client to make two collages (masks) out of magazines. One mask (the “outside mask”) is how they think the world sees them, and one mask (the “inside mask”) is how they see themselves. This can reveal a lot about how the client thinks of themselves and the world  .

21. Toy and Object Play Therapy Magic Wand Play Emotion Ball Play Feeling Charade Play Tearing Pages

22. Toy and Object Play Therapy 1. The MagicWand Play Therapy: the therapist might give the client a magic wand and tell them they can make three wishes. At least one of the wishes is likely to relate to a real-life problem the client has. This play technique is effective for helping clients to safely verbalize their wishes or goals, as well as aspects of their environments (e.g., at school or in their home) that may be troubling them. 2.Emotions Ball Play Therapy: this one works well to express emotions, especially in children who might be uncomfortable describing their feelings. Using a ball, write a feeling on each side, then have the family toss the ball back and forth. You might have emotions like joy, happiness, sadness written on the ball. Whoever catches the ball describes a time when they had that particular feeling.This is a group therapy activity to help families discuss their emotions while the rest listen with no judgment.

23. 3.Feelings Charade Play Therapy This play uses feelings on written charade cards. You could call it a card game.The children pick cards and act out the emotions written on them during the therapy sessions. The aim is to allow the therapist to analyze how clients express their feelings in the family set up. Best for teens and very therapeutic .

24. 4.Tearing Pages Play This playing therapy technique uses an old book. The children tear pages out of the book, crumple, and toss them into the paper bin. This play therapy idea helps the children understand how to “throw away” angry feelings and not hold on to them.

25. Genogram Communication Game Self Control Play Therapy

26. Genogram: 1.Communication Games the therapist and client might play “The Talking, Feeling, and Doing Game”. A turn of the game might look like this: the client draws a card that says “Make believe that something is happening that is scary. What is happening?” and if the client does what the card says, they get a chip. During the game, the therapist can see how the client reacts in certain situations and advise them on how to react in these situations. The response of the child during play therapy in this game reveal their inner feeling and psychological issues.

27. 2.Self-Control Games the therapist and client might play “Simon Says”, where the client has to do what the therapist says (such as jumping on one foot), but only if the therapist started their sentence with “Simon says…”. This can promote paying attention and self-control, as the client has to pay attention to what the therapist is saying and only do what the therapist says in certain situations (Schaeffer & Cangelosi , 2016).

28. Imagery and Fantasy Play Therapy c Guided Imagery The World Technique Worry Dolls

29. Imagery and Fantasy Play Therapy 1.Worry Dolls Some children carry burdens from home, such as financial turmoil, leaving them feeling worried, which significantly affects their mental health.However , a play therapy activity like worry dolls goes a long way in solving such problems. How? You present the children with dolls  or help the client make their own , and they assign each with a thought bothering them in this case, worry. After the session, they leave the dolls behind. In future sessions, the therapist can bring these dolls out one-by-one to discuss these worries and how the client is dealing with them This activity can also use stuffed animals. The intent is to show children they don’t have to worry and leave worries behind.

30. 2.Guided Imagery For example, a therapist might ask the client about a nightmare they have been having, then explain to the client that nightmares are like movies, and tell the client that they can change the nightmare if they do not like it.The therapist can then work with the client to figure out a happier ending for a nightmare , in an attempt to retrain the client’s brain to feel more control.

31. 2.The World Technique This play therapy technique involves the child using toys and tools to build an imaginary world of their own. As you observe, ask questions to understand the child’s mind . What they come up with could be happening in their reality. Additionally, this play therapy activity allows the child to express their creativity and express their emotions with no inhibition. Playing the role of a creator gives them power. You find their problem-solving skills improve because they face challenges and need to overcome them as they build .

32. Other Play Therapy c Magic Tricks Laughter Stress Innoculation

33. Other Play Therapy: Laughter Play Therapy Laughter is said to be medicine for the soul. A tickling game is one way to get children laughing. T he therapist and client might take turns trying to make each other laugh in any way they can (without touching each other). The client’s parents can also play a tickling game with the client for the sole purpose of making the client laugh. The reaction to what is said, how it is said, and who says it gives you an idea of the family dynamics. Besides, real emotions are expressed in a happy and calm environment. Laughter improves relationships, as well. Ir breaks barriers put up by life’s issues .

34. Stress Inoculation Play the therapist might have the client play out a future stress-causing situation, such as an upcoming class presentation. The client can use toys to work out what might happen during the presentation, and the client might realize that the situation is not as scary as it first seemed. The therapist can also offer coping strategies for the client based on the client’s fears about the presentation (Schaefer & Drewes , 2013).  

35. 3.Magic Tricks For example, the therapist might ask the client if they want to see some magic, show them a magic trick, and then show the client how to do the magic trick themselves. This is a fun activity that can help the bond between the therapist and client. Showing the client how to do the trick themselves can also give the client a feeling of control and mastery, which can raise their levels of self-esteem . . .

36. Evaluations: Playing is considered the language of children. With this in mind, games and play help children express themselves naturally with no inhibition. Regardless of what your child or family is undergoing, a therapy offers more solutions to handling them. A struggling kid or one undergoing emotional abuse can easily get lost in a game and give clues to what is happening in their mind and social places. Play therapy continues to be practical, and many parents give positive feedback after attending sessions with their children .

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