Play Therapy is conducted in a play therapy room or in a space that can be set-up for play. It is, essentially, a room of toys. Toys may differ between playrooms with the main concern only being that a range is offered to provide children with multiple ways to express themselves. Once in the room the way children use items in the playroom is generally more a function of their personal needs, than the design of the item. (Ray, 2011)
The therapist follows the child’s expression in the play. They respond to the child’s words, requests, actions and the feelings that arise in the room with therapeutic responses. Therapeutic responses all tap into different areas of the brain drawing the child’s attention to aspects of a situation that they are working hard to process. They may include observations, “you’ve picked up that one,” “you’re putting them in a line.” Statements about feelings that arise, “If I was that baby I would be feeling scared,” ”I’m feeling overwhelmed, it’s so much.” Body statements, “It’s hard to take a deep breath,” “My tummy feels tight.” Each carefully worded statement helps the child to become more aware of their own experience and find solutions to challenges within it.
The toys and play build the bridge of communication between the child and therapist while the relationship and responses of the therapist support the child to move towards difficult feelings and challenges and begin to integrate them. If a child integrates these difficult challenges and experiences the child becomes more regulated, challenging behaviours decrease and the child is able to gain more access to their rational brain.
Non-Directive Sessions
In a non-directive play therapy session the child takes the lead in the play and the therapy. The child decides which toys they wish to play with in that session and how they wish to play with them. this approach gives the child a voice and opportunity to express their individual experience.
Directive Sessions and Activities
Sometimes the therapist may identify a specific area or skill that the child could benefit from working on in a specific way. In this instance they may utilise a directive approach. This means that the therapist takes the lead and made request or suggest that the child engages with a particular play based experience of the therapists choice.
