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What is Play Therapy?
“Enter into children’s play, and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet.” — Virginia Axline.
Child Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) uses the creative and non-verbal capacities of children to engage and work therapeutically with them. In this non-directive play therapy approach, the therapist enters the world of the child, following the child’s lead and developing a safe place and a relationship of trust. CCPT fosters the child’s innate potential and encourages the unique development and emotional growth of the child.
At the heart of CCPT is the relationship, which is central to connecting with children and helping them heal and grow. Through the combination of play and the therapeutic relationship, a safe, consistent environment is created. As the child experiences full acceptance and empathy from the counsellor, they can process inner experiences and feelings through play and the use of symbols.The focus is on the child and not on his or her problems. In fact, the child-centred approach to play therapy views diagnosis and evaluation as distracting and potentially detrimental to the child. Resilience and healing is gained by allowing the child to play out their inner and real life experiences. The act of play and creative arts activities accesses both hemispheres of the brain and facilitates the integration of cognition, feeling, and sensation that fosters new understanding.
History of Child Centred Play Therapy
The Child Centred Play Therapy approach used by Resilient Kids Play Therapy is based on the theories of Virginia Axline and Carl Rogers who believe that children need complete freedom to express themselves verbally, physically and with representative symbols. Revisiting overwhelming lived experiences in fantasy, allows the child to have control over the event, and to develop mastery over fears that can be drawn upon in the future.
Virginia Axline postulates that children are able, from an early age, to make choices and take responsibilities in line with their age and ability. If this ability is fostered, the child becomes happier, more fulfilled and confident.
CCPT sessions are non-judgemental, non-directive, and non-interpretative. CCPT can be very effective in helping the child to develop
- Emotional regulation skills
- Communication and language skills
- Social skills
- Resilience
- Better relationships with family and friends
- The ability to heal from traumatic experiences
The use of natural materials such as sand and water as well as miniature figures of people, animals, trees, fantasy figures etc is important to allow the imagination free reign.
Making a world in the sand, for instance, gives a child the opportunity to make sense of his or her experience and gain some control over his or her world. Through this experience the child develops strategies on how to deal with situations in the real world.
Child Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) uses the creative and non-verbal capacities of children to engage and work therapeutically with them. In this non-directive play therapy approach, the therapist enters the world of the child, following the child’s lead and developing a safe place and a relationship of trust. CCPT fosters the child’s innate potential and encourages the unique development and emotional growth of the child.
At the heart of CCPT is the relationship, which is central to connecting with children and helping them heal and grow. Through the combination of play and the therapeutic relationship, a safe, consistent environment is created. As the child experiences full acceptance and empathy from the counsellor, they can process inner experiences and feelings through play and the use of symbols. The focus is on the child and not on his or her problems. In fact, the child-centred approach to play therapy views diagnosis and evaluation as distracting and potentially detrimental to the child. Resilience and healing is gained by allowing the child to play out their inner and real life experiences. The act of play and creative arts activities accesses both hemispheres of the brain and facilitates the integration of cognition, feeling, and sensation that fosters new understanding.
Parent as Co-Therapist
The most effective change for children occurs when the systems around the child (family, school…) have a shared understanding of the child’s needs and are responding therapeutically to those needs. Children learn resilience and emotional regulation through their interactions with others and the adult role models around them. Parenting is an ever-evolving art with flexibility a crucial component. There are many ways in which parents can adapt to support their child. While Resilient Kids Play Therapy specialises in promoting the social and emotional wellbeing of young children we also support parents in their journey to be responsive and sensitive to their child’s needs.
"Play is the child’s natural medium for self experience"
Virginia Axline
