The Center for Family Counseling

PLAY THERAPY FOR CHILDREN

Play Therapy is used for children 2 years and older.  Research supports the use of play therapy with children in this age range as an effective and developmentally appropriate therapeutic approach.  Play therapy is utilized to provide children with concrete means of expressing and communicating experiences, thoughts, feelings, and concerns.  Play is a child’s language, as words can be too abstract for young children to use to process difficult situations (Landreth, 2002).  Through the play therapy approach, a consistent, safe, and autonomous environment is established for children to facilitate problem solving, a greater self-concept, development of responsibility, an increase in self-control, and the expression feelings.