Principles On Play Therapy Littleton Co Residents May Wish To Know

By Gary Allen


To address various issues that trouble the little minds of children, play therapy can be used. This method of treatment is usually applied for children falling within the three to eleven years age bracket. In special situations, grown up clients can also benefit. The treatment modality incorporates the use of tools such as stuffed animals, pets and dolls. There are a number of essential principles on play therapy Littleton Co residents may find worth knowing.

This therapy can be largely categorized as either non-directive or directive. Also known as psychodynamic treatment, the non-directive approach gives the client total freedom to play whichever way they want to. Directive therapy, on the other hand, gives the therapist some control over the sessions . Directive treatment can alternatively be called cognitive behavioral therapy.

As there is very minimal intrusion, if any, in non-directive therapy, the client is able to sort out their problems as they go through the sessions. This awareness during play works more for adults than children since the brain of the former is more developed and is capable of making intuitions. The non-directive option also aids the therapist in making diagnostic formulations based on how the client makes decisions during the sessions.

On the other hand, the directive option relies on the therapist to provide guidance on what plays the client will take part in. The good thing is that it does not completely take away the freedom of the individual in play. The psychiatrist is able to take note of what moves the patient takes in the process and their relevance to the question at hand. The other advantage of the directive method is that the problem can be identified and a solution provided within a short period of time. Even though the non-directive method is fully centered on the client, it may require more session to address issues.

Parents can engage their children in playing in order to know them better. This is usually termed as attachment play. It is particularly useful for a child who has been through a traumatic experience such as hospitalization, road traffic accident, kidnapping and parents divorcing among other issues. Parents can get their children to express themselves through drawing, coloring and so forth. The mere act of being present helps the child be assured that they are not alone.

Because the directive approach requires a certain level of cognition, it may not be suitable for the very young. Children may not be able to make useful deductions based on the guidance provided. A high level of creativity is therefore needed for this method to be successful. To facilitate this, the therapist can create interesting but relevant stories using pets, dolls and stuffed animals.

Factors related to the client and to the therapist contribute a great deal to the success of treatment. Among others, such factors include the total number of sessions attended, experience of the therapist and attitude depicted by the client throughout the entire process. However, based on age, efficacy does not vary.

To conclude, it is important to state that play therapy is crucial to both individuals and groups of people. It comes to the aid of both the young and the old. Ultimately, it provides the much needed breakthrough for those who require it.




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