Introduction to Play Therapy

Psychologists such as Hermine Hug-Hellmuth, David Levy, Anna Freud, and Carl Rogers began using play therapy in the early 20th century. Virginia Axline, a student of Carl Rogers, went on to develop the 8 guiding principles of child-centered play therapy that have been nurtured and further developed by Dr. Garry Landreth upon the opening of the National Center for Play Therapy in 1988. Child-centered play therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic model that uses the therapeutic relationship to effect change. It is non-directive, requires acceptance from the therapist, and talking is not required of the child. This therapy can be short or long term, allowing children to speak and discharge feelings through their play.

Child-centered play therapy is a humanistic therapy, meaning it focuses on the person in the room rather than the presenting problems. It works with feelings, and aims to understand instead of correcting behaviour. It functions on the belief that children can only change when they feel completely accepted for who they are. Being non-directive, the child leads the direction of each session, and the therapy as a whole. Child-centered play therapy establishes that all children are born with what they need to flourish.

Benefits of Play Therapy

Traditional talk therapy can be a barrier for children. Child-centered play therapy removes the expectation to verbalize difficult things, and uses toys and role-play as a form of communication. This provides an advantageous medium for children to process emotions, explore and orient themselves to their experiences, express and release frustration and mastery, foster imagination and creativity, and finally, to develop a sense of self-responsibility and self-confidence. Permitting the child to lead empowers the child.

The Role of the Therapist

The main role of the therapist in child-centered play therapy is to establish a safe relationship that relays these four messages; “I am here,” “I hear you,” “I understand,” “I care.” This relationship is healing in itself and the most important piece for therapeutic growth to take place. The therapist follows these 8 guiding principles as developed by Virginia Axline and further by Dr. Garry Landreth:

  1. Therapist is genuinely interested in the child and develops a warm and caring relationship with them.
  2. Therapist experiences acceptance of the child and does not wish the child to be different.
  3. The therapist establishes feelings of safety and permissiveness.
  4. The therapist is sensitive to the child’s feelings and reflects those feelings.
  5. The therapist believes in the child’s capacity to act responsibly and unwaveringly respects the child’s ability to solve problems and allows them to do so.
  6. Therapist trusts the child’s inner direction and allows the child to lead in all areas of the relationship and resists the urge to direct the play or conversation.
  7. The therapist appreciates the gradual nature of the therapeutic process and does not attempt to hurry the process.
  8. The therapist establishes those therapeutic limits as necessary to anchor sessions to reality and which help the child accept personal and appropriate responsibility.

Finally, it is important to ask your therapist what kind of training they have to work with children. “Play therapist” is not a protected label, and some professionals have adopted this term without appropriate certifications and training. Working with young children is considered a speciality or a niche, and requires additional training that is usually not addressed in graduate studies. Therapists who have engaged in some play therapy training and do not hold any certifications should participate in supervision with another qualified professional who can provide guidance and support when needed.

Who is Child Centered, Non-Directive Play Therapy for?

Child-centered play therapy was developed for children between ages 2 and 10, but principles and concepts from this methodology can be used in many therapeutic relationships. This specific type of play therapy can address concerns and experiences such as; children with trauma backgrounds, pre- and perinatal trauma (pre-verbal trauma), abuse of any kind, domestic violence, illness of child or family member, aggression (ODD), depression, major family changes, substance use, attachment injuries, children in foster care, and children with parents living with mental illness. Though this therapy can serve many presenting concerns, it is important that your therapist has experience and/or training working in some of these areas.

Parental Involvement

Even though children attend child-centered play therapy alone, parents are still an important part of the therapeutic process. Confidentiality of the child is respected in this process, but parents can support their child through active engagement in regular consultations with the therapist. During these consultations, the therapist will offer information on how the child can be supported at home and provide parents with the tools to offer that support. It is normal for behaviour to change or become more challenging once therapy begins, and communicating these changes with your child’s therapist will support their process. Child-centered play therapy is a collaborative process that includes all support systems (parents, family, schools, therapist, etc.) where possible. Finally, parents are the experts on their children. Parental commitment and engagement ensures that the therapeutic process has the best chance of supporting therapeutic growth.

If you are interested in play therapy for you child please reach out to Sydney Maharaj-Nicholson RP through Info@ksrc.ca or fill out the contact us page on this site.