
Play Therapy

Play therapy is a structured, theoretically based approach to therapy that builds on the normal communicative and learning processes of children. I use play therapy to help children express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings. In play therapy, toys are like the child's words and play is the child's language. Through play, I help children learn more adaptive behaviors when there are emotional or social skills deficits. Play therapy may also be used to promote cognitive development and provide insight about and resolution of inner conflicts or dysfunctional thinking in the child.
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Play therapy helps children:
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Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies.
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Develop new and creative solutions to problems.
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Develop respect and acceptance of self and others.
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Learn to experience and express emotion.
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Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others.
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Learn new social skills and relational skills with family.
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Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities.