www.BeTreatedWell.com Child Therapy
In order to understand Child Therapy we must first understand how best to
communicate with a child. Child Therapy is based on the premise that play is the
language of children.
I use the term “play” in a broad sense to encompass each time a child interacts
with the world around them. This would include sucking ones fingers, playing with
food, hitting a sibling, playing “make believe” or playing a board game. Learning
and development that take place well before language skills develop exist in this
realm of play. Children of all ages not only receive, but also send communications
via play.
Emotions are difficult for children to understand and even more difficult to
express. Even highly verbal children are less likely to verbally describe emotional
problems and more likely to express distress through play. Play is the work of
childhood and provides a non-threatening way for children to express themselves
and work through problems.
In Child Therapy, play allows the child to express true thoughts and feelings in
ways best suited to his or her developmental level, in a setting in which the child
has the time, space and freedom to work on issues that may be getting in the way
of development. With a young child the Psychologist may not even directly
discuss problems, but will communicate with the child about them via play. Play
in Child Therapy is both a form of communication and a method of healing.
Child Therapists have used play since the 1930s when Anna Freud first proposed
symbolic play as a psychiatric intervention for children. In 2003 Sandra Russ of
Case University summarized the findings of her longitudinal studies of children
which supported the premise that in play children learn to express emotion and
solve problems. She also noted that among other natural benefits of play,
children also can use it to diffuse strong emotion or calm down.
Parents who are puzzled by a child’s description of fun in the therapist’s office
should be aware that the play is a means to an end. Much more than play is
taking place.
In order to understand Child Therapy we must first understand how best to
communicate with a child. Child Therapy is based on the premise that play is the
language of children.
I use the term “play” in a broad sense to encompass each time a child interacts
with the world around them. This would include sucking ones fingers, playing with
food, hitting a sibling, playing “make believe” or playing a board game. Learning
and development that take place well before language skills develop exist in this
realm of play. Children of all ages not only receive, but also send communications
via play.
Emotions are difficult for children to understand and even more difficult to
express. Even highly verbal children are less likely to verbally describe emotional
problems and more likely to express distress through play. Play is the work of
childhood and provides a non-threatening way for children to express themselves
and work through problems.
In Child Therapy, play allows the child to express true thoughts and feelings in
ways best suited to his or her developmental level, in a setting in which the child
has the time, space and freedom to work on issues that may be getting in the way
of development. With a young child the Psychologist may not even directly
discuss problems, but will communicate with the child about them via play. Play
in Child Therapy is both a form of communication and a method of healing.
Child Therapists have used play since the 1930s when Anna Freud first proposed
symbolic play as a psychiatric intervention for children. In 2003 Sandra Russ of
Case University summarized the findings of her longitudinal studies of children
which supported the premise that in play children learn to express emotion and
solve problems. She also noted that among other natural benefits of play,
children also can use it to diffuse strong emotion or calm down.
Parents who are puzzled by a child’s description of fun in the therapist’s office
should be aware that the play is a means to an end. Much more than play is
taking place.
| Antonia Caretto, Ph.D., PLLC |
| www.BeTreatedWell.com phone: 248.553.9053 |
| Articles of Interest: Business of Therapy Anxiety Why Gender? Asperger's Disorder Adjustment Disorders Self-Injurious Behavior |
