Play Therapy

Play Therapy for Children in Annapolis, MD

 

Children can sometimes feel intimidated or overwhelmed in traditional therapy settings. When this happens, it might be difficult to get the child to open up and communicate during sessions, which can limit therapeutic progress.

 

Because play is one of the main ways children communicate and interact with the world, it is often beneficial to incorporate elements of play into counseling sessions. When an appropriately trained and qualified therapist uses play-based techniques to work with a child, this is called play therapy.

If your child is struggling with emotional, mental health, behavioral, or neurological issues, our child therapists at Cedar Counseling & Wellness can help. Through a mix of play therapy and traditional counseling techniques, we can support children (and parents) with a wide range of issues.

 

What is Play Therapy?

Most traditional therapy approaches focus on talking (hence the name, “talk therapy”). However, in play therapy, communication between the therapist and client primarily occurs through play.

 

Through play therapy activities such as drawing, puppet play, or even building with LEGOs, children may be able to express and explore complex emotions with a therapist on a deeper level than through talking alone.

 

Play therapy can be used for assessment and evaluation, where a therapist observes a child’s play and gathers relevant information about their mental and emotional state. It can also be an effective treatment (therapeutic play therapy), where targeted interventions are used to help with a specific issue.

 

Issues Play Therapy Can Help With

Play therapy is a flexible counseling technique that can be used to help with the majority of issues a child may experience in life.

 

At Cedar Counseling & Wellness, our child therapists in Annapolis MD are particularly skilled at working with children experiencing:

 

• Anxiety
• Behavioral concerns
• Depression
• ADHD
• Divorce/separation of parents
• Grief
• Autism
• Trauma
• Adjusting to life transitions
• Anger and aggression

 

Benefits of Play Therapy

It’s not an “either/or” choice between play therapy and general therapy. 

 

Depending on the situation, a child may benefit from play therapy on its own, play therapy in combination with standard counseling, or play therapy as part of a larger treatment plan.

 

Some of the unique advantages of play therapy include:

 

• A sensitive approach that encourages children to gradually open up about a distressing incident, such as trauma or abuse
• Younger children may lack the vocabulary to talk about complex emotional issues, yet can explore these effectively through play
• Play therapy can feel less intimidating and direct than regular therapy
• Children can learn valuable skills through play therapy, like improving concentration, developing socially appropriate behavior, and expanding their emotional vocabulary  

 

Types of Play Therapy

There are several different forms of children’s play therapy. Neither are better or worse than others, but some children may respond better to certain play therapy techniques.

 

The main types of play therapy for kids are: 

 

Directive. In directive play therapy, the therapist guides the child through structured activities to understand what is going on in their lives and/or build new skills. As an example, play therapy for ADHD might center around activities that build a child’s capacity for concentration and impulse control.

 

Non-Directive. With a non-directive approach, the therapist encourages the child to explore and engage with play therapy themes and activities that interest them the most (often in a play therapy room or environment created beforehand). When working with a child who has experienced trauma, the play therapist might only observe at first, then join in play with the child to support them.

 

Child-Centered Play Therapy. Child-centered play therapy focuses on establishing a warm therapeutic bond with the child and accepting them for who they are. In play therapy for autism or neurodiversity, a child-centered approach may involve supporting the child to develop their own solutions for daily life, even if they look a little different from how the average person may approach the same challenges. 

 

Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy. CBT play therapy takes the classic approaches for working with unhelpful thinking styles in adults, then simplifies them into play-based activities children can benefit from. This style of play therapy for children can be particularly effective for anxiety and depression.  

 

Our child therapist in Annapolis, MD at Cedar Counseling & Wellness works with children aged 5 years and above, utilizing a range of evidence-based play therapy techniques, blending cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and trauma-informed approaches as appropriate.

 

What Happens in a Play Therapy Session?

The reality is, with the range of issues children present with and the large number of play-based therapy approaches, no two play therapy sessions will look alike.

 

As a guide, the play therapist will engage your child in one or more activities, such as:

 

• Puppet games and role-playing
• Arts and crafts
• Singing, dancing, and musical play
• Storytelling and creative visualization
• Sand or water play
• Board games and card games
• Using building blocks

 

During these activities, the play therapist will be observing and interacting with your child. They might also alternate play-based activities with more traditional counseling techniques.

 

Are Parents Involved?

We are committed to collaborating with parents and involving them in the therapeutic process. However, the amount of involvement may vary from session to session.

 

Ideally, during the first session or soon after, your child will engage in sessions independently (without a parent in the room). This helps to create a unique environment where your child can express themselves in a way they might not be able to with family present.

 

At Cedar Counseling & Wellness, our play therapist will regularly communicate with you about the progress your child is making. Together, you can decide on the level of parental involvement that best facilitates your child’s growth and healing.

 

Does Play Therapy Actually Work?

Perhaps because it doesn’t seem as clinical as other forms of therapy, some people ask, “Is play therapy evidence-based?”

 

We can’t cover all the research here. But, the short answer is, there are decades of research demonstrating play therapy is an effective intervention for children experiencing a wide range of challenges. 

 

Play therapy also seems to play a protective role for children going through stressful life transitions, like the separation of parents or the loss of a family member.

 

Play Therapy at Cedar Counseling & Wellness

At Cedar Counseling & Wellness, our specialist child therapists can provide play therapy to children in Annapolis, MD.

 

Play therapy is available for children aged 5 years or over, either as a stand-alone therapy or in combination with our other counseling and assessment services.

If you think your child might benefit from play therapy, please contact us or use the link below to request an appointment.

Do you think play therapy might be a good fit for your child? Our experienced child therapists are ready to support you. The process is simple.

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1. To find the right therapist for you, view our therapists’ bios here.

2. Schedule your intake session. If you’re not quite ready to book yet, you can set up a complimentary 15-minute consultation.

3. Attend your intake. During your first session, your therapist will work to understand more about your current concerns and your goals for therapy.

4. Start therapy. We’ll work collaboratively with you to support your child on their therapeutic journey.