Why Play Therapy?
What is “Play”?
I remember the first time I heard “play” used as a noun instead of a verb... “Play is the child’s language.” It makes perfect sense and also shifts the way I understand the process of play/playing. I had only used it as a verb before: “Let’s play,” “Joey plays the guitar.” Sometimes we use “play” as a noun to describe a thing, like in drama, “...starring in a play,” or sports, “That was a righteous play!”
But play, as a noun, provides a new context to understand the inner experience of, well, what happens when we play.
For the purposes of this blog, we’ll use Merriam-Webster’s definition for
play (noun)
: recreational activity
especially : the spontaneous activity of children
Play is the place where a child makes meaning of their world. It is the language of integrating experience into a felt sense of purpose. It is where children learn about who they are, what they like, and how they want to be in the world. It is where they can reflect back the crazy things they see adults doing, to try to make sense of it. As my first Play Therapy mentor, Dr. Julia Byers, instilled in me, “Trust that which has meaning.”
In this way, Play can have a lot of metaphor. It can be a way to express feelings, especially feelings that are big or difficult. Has there been a time recently that you were playing with or alongside your child and found yourself experiencing a sense of joy or relief? That is the other magical side-effect of play. It is a way to offload our extra hang-ups and be present in the moment with exactly what is (or what could be).
Whether interactive play, play based in real life, pretend play; whether it’s your baby trying to fit a ball inside a coffee can, or your 7 year old replaying with action figures what they saw on TV last week, these are the ways that children can make meaning of their world. And integrate those experiences into their understanding of how things work.
What is “Play Therapy”?
Garry Landreth, one of the pioneers in the field of Child-Centered Play Therapy, describes Play Therapy as
“a dynamic interpersonal relationship between a child (or person of any age) and a therapist trained in play therapy procedures who provides selected play materials and facilitates the development of a safe relationship for the child (or person of any age) to fully express and explore self (feelings, thoughts, experiences, and behaviors) through play, the child's natural medium of communication, for optimal growth and development.”
(from his book, Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship, 2012)
Although focused primarily on children, play therapy can be tremendously healing for adults as well. The Association for Play Therapy describes 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."
What does that even mean?
It means this:
Through a prepared environment, trained professional, a trusting relationship with said trained professional, and a willingness to heal, transformation is possible. Play therapy uses some materials that can help externalize and provide concrete experiences for self-expression.
“Play” vs. “Work”?
In a Montessori classroom, we use the term “work” to describe a child’s materials, or the effort of the child. “That’s Josie’s work...They are working on putting those cars in that box.” This is because from the Montessori perspective, a child’s play is actually their crucial developmental work. Montessori said,
“When a grown-up thinks of work, he thinks of doing something as a means to an end -- spending his days in an office for the sake of a salary -- but a child's work is based on doing things for their own sake. There is an end towards which his work is taking him: through his work, he is building the person he will become. But the child doesn't know this, he only knows that he takes delight in doing certain things. This is his work.”
-- Maria Montessori Speaks to Parents, A Selection of Articles from the Montessori Series Volume 21. Copyright 2017. Montessori-Pierson + AMI, p. 18.
Why Play Therapy?
The therapeutic process is one in which a relationship is the healing force.
It is an experience of energetic shift by releasing the stories we hold within our bodies and minds.
The therapist does work to understand, support and guide clients based on the client’s presentation and what the person needs.
The client does the big work of showing up and telling their truth, with a willingness to make movement or change.
Most times, when we think of therapy, we think of “talk-therapy,” Therapists in an office, sitting in a chair, while a client unloads what’s going on for them. And then the therapist provides some profound insight (or doesn’t), supports the client in creating a plan to navigate difficulties (or doesn’t). Using talk therapy, for many people, can work brilliantly, because it’s a place where spoken language and emotional expression come together and a foundational relationship can facilitate healing.
What if you don’t have the words? Or if making the connection between your inner experience and words isn’t easily accessible? This is especially true for young children. Play therapy materials can support this expression. With things like musical instruments, art supplies, figurines, puppets, costumes, dolls, toys and games, space to move, listen and act or pretend, the stories hidden within may have an easier time emerging out of the body.
