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Therapeutic
Play |
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Fingerpuppet
Fox introduces some of the puppets and toys in the therapy room
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What
is therapeutic play?
Therapeutic
play means doing therapy through objects, art and stories,
using creativity to communicate and to access intuitive
knowledge. The child (or adult) client can express themselves
by acting out play scenarios, drawing, talking, (or just play!).
The counsellor responds and works with the information produced
to help the client create new solutions which can then be used
in the real life world too. The play therapy room is a safe, fun,
space with puppets, dolls, toys, art materials, play dough or
clay, musical instruments, and a sand tray with many different
figurines and symbolic toys with which the client can tell stories,
invent imaginary worlds, and build a safe relationship with the
counsellor. Unspoken fears can be expressed and safely left behind
at the end of the session. |
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Sand-tray
play allows us to create contained worlds which express inner realites
and then explore and change them. Through play, children learn to
face loss, anger and fear and discover their ability to find their
own solutions to real problems by doing so in the therapy world.
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'As-if'
Play |
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The
stories created often contain elements of both real life and fantasies.
Most
counsellors (including me) rarely ask how 'true' the story is
- play therapy is about exploring and sharing possibilities and
emotional truths not finding out exactly what happened.
The
client is in control of what to show, and how far to tell the
counsellor what it means, which allows them to move at their own
pace.
Clients
who find it hard to talk in ordinary therapy feel safe to explore
secrets and 'discover' things which they have not acknowledged
fully even to themselves. |
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Puppets |
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Furry
Fruit Bat is a good listener for
Big Black Bird...
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...
but Python tells it like it is.
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Expressing
feelings and trying out new ways of behaving is much easier when
it's not you but a puppet who's talking. |
Therapeutic
Play for Adults
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"We
do not stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we
stop playing"
Play
and creativity engages different parts of the brain which allows
unconscious new solutions or perspectives to emerge naturally
- especially for adults who are not used to being creative. People
who are not sure what to talk about, or those who have come to
a 'dead end', often find play therapy releases new possibilities.
The same psychotherapeutic principles are used in play therapy
as in talking therapy so the two can be mixed. Therapeutic play
does not require ANY artistic ability.
Using
natural objects to represent people can give us new insights about
our relationships with them |
Therapeutic
Play for Children, Teenagers and Families
For
children play is work. It is the way they learn how to be in the
world. It is easier for children to communicate through play than
just talking because nearly all children soon begin to talk about
their play willingly. Children love the play therapy room, so
they look forward to coming to therapy.Teenagers
who don't like talking often like art or music and communicate
through these means with a counsellor who is willing to listen.
By making stories children can let us know what their concerns
are about, and resolve their fears and anxieties (or anger) through
manipulating the different characters they use. Because the 'results'
are often in images and stories they are extremely memorable and
easier for a child's brain to understand and use than logical
explanations. The counsellor, and sometimes parents, can join
in the play to respond and work with the ideas the client raises.
Click
here for more information about Children,
Parents and Families |
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*Play therapy
scenarios shown here have been staged for the photographs - real sessions
are confidential
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