As a parent, you want your child to live a happy and healthy life. You want them to be able to grow up to live out the life that you envisioned for them. You dreamt of a life where they would have a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted childhood.
But right now, you don’t see your child living their best life. You see them struggling and you worry about them making friends, tackling life’s challenges, and being able to come out on top. You worry that your child will not have the skills needed to navigate all that life holds for them.
Parents don’t be discouraged, you’re in the right place.
Here are Mind Works we believe that every child deserves to reach their fullest potential. We believe in helping children feel capable and confident, while working with parents to give them the tools necessary to support their children.
What is Play Therapy?
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) defines play therapy as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.”
Play therapy is different than traditional talk therapy in that the therapist helps children to address and resolve their own problems using play. Play is a natural medium used by children to communicate. Through play, children learn about themselves and their relationships in the world around them. Play therapy gives children opportunities to learn to communicate with others, identify and express their feelings, and increase emotional regulation. Play therapy also helps children to work on changing their behavior and begin to develop coping and problems solving skills that can be used later in life.
How Does Play Therapy Work?
When children can communicate in their own developmental language, and are provided with a safe environment to express their emotions, they can begin to move and work through conflict. They are able resolve struggles with a trained play therapist who can understand and interpret the therapeutic meaning behind their play. A play therapist is trained in understanding the meaning behind play while helping to assess every child’s individual needs. Play therapy is an Evidenced Based Model for therapy.
Who can benefit from Play Therapy?
Play Therapy can be used with children of all ages. Play therapy is especially appropriate for children ages 3-12 therapy. Teens and adults can also benefit from some play therapy techniques. Play therapy addresses a variety of issues including but not limited to misbehavior, attachment, anxiety disorders, depression, grief and loss, abuse and neglect, autism, divorce, obsessive compulsive disorders, trauma, crisis, attention deficit hyperactivity, anger management, peer pressure, stress, academic and social difficulties, and learning differences.
How long does Play Therapy Take?
Play Therapy sessions typically are 50-60 minutes in length. Sessions are held on a weekly basis for a few months. Working with your play therapist can help you determine the frequency and duration of sessions. Research suggests it takes about an average of 20 sessions for children to resolve problems of the typical child that is referred for treatment.
Will my family be involved in Play Therapy?
Your play therapist will make decisions on how or when in incorporate individual or all family members if deemed therapeutically appropriate. At a minimum level you as the caregivers will be involved in the treatment planning and process of your child. Your therapist will communicate on a regular basis with the child’s caregivers while monitoring progress in treatment
What to Expect?
The first session is the intake session that is designed for parents only. Here you will meet your therapist to discuss and define your counseling relationship. Your therapist will gather information about your child, biological, psychological, and social history, and how this is impacting your current situation. You and your therapist will also discuss treatment goals moving forward and begin setting up appointments for your child.
Our goal is to help you feel supported and understood. At Mind Works we strive to include parents as partners in the process. We will set up a feedback session over the next 5-8 weeks where you and your therapist can discuss progress, continued treatment goals, while providing parental guidance and support.
Give us a call to make an appointment, we look forward to hearing from you.
