Childhood Problems:  When grownups are sad, lonely, angry, upset, worried, or afraid it helps to talk about their felings.  If these feelings are real strong and last a long time they might choose to talk to a therapist.  A therapist is someone who helps people learn more about their feelings and think of new ways to work out their problems.  Moving to a new city, losing a job, sickness, a death in the family or when two people decide not to be married anymore are some problems adults might have.

 When children have real strong feelings that last a long time their parents or other grownups might decide to take them to a child therapist.  Some people call them play therapists.  It is not easy for children to talk about their feelings and problems.  Children do not think or talk the same as grownups do and it is hard for them to know why they have these feelings.

Some children who are having problems hit, bite or kick other children or adults.  They might cry alot, worry, act grumpy and tired, not follow the rules at home and school, call people names, do things without thinking what will happen later, refuse to play with other children or try to talk them into breaking the rules, act afraid, become picky eaters or want to eat all the time.  Sometimes when children try to tell others about their problems, people do not understand or know what to do to make things better.  After a while, some people think they should try to forget about it and just learn to behave.  That is very hard to do so they keep acting the same way.  The way they act can push people away from them.  That makes those hurtful feelings even stronger.

Play Therapy:  Children all over the world like to play.  It is the easiest way to let out all of their feelings.  Besides being so much fun, playing and pretending can help children to learn new ways of thinking, acting, and feeling.  Since children cannot think out or talk out their problems with therapists the way adults do, they can play out their feelings with a play therapist.  Sometimes therapists work with one or two children in a family.  They might work with all of the children in the family at the same time or with the whole family. 

The Special Playroom:  Play therapists can use a big room in their office building for a special playroom.  they can set up a special place int he corner of their own office for play therapy.  These special toys are chosen for the playroom and office to help children let out their feelings.  therapists might have dolls, toy cars, dollhouses, kitchen tools and play food, telephones, medical kits, puppets, bop bags, clay, games, art supplies or other special toys for children to play with.

How it Works:

1.  The therapist meets with the parents, the child and other adults to decide if play therapy would be helpful.

2.  They talk about the problems and makes a plan for how to work them out in therapy.

3.  They decide how often and how long the child will attend sessions.  We usually start out with weekly sessions.  Some problems take longer to work out then others.

4.  The therapist begins to work with the child.  The therapists pays close attention to what the child says and does to understand what the child is feeling.  The child might want to talk, play or do both.  It might seem strange at first to play or talk with a grownup the child does not know.  Most children look forward to going after they know the therapist better.  The therapy session is the child’s private time to play out problems.  The therapist will ask the child’s parents and others NOT to ask the child to talk about what happens in each session.  The child can choose to share this with others.  Sometimes it is so much fun that the child will want to tell people about it.

5.   The child begins to feel better about those hurtful feelings and problems.

6.  The time comes when play therapy is not needed.  The therapist and the child will makes plans in advance for the last session.  They might feel a little sad on that day.  The child’s parents can call the therapist if another session is ever needed.