Play Therapy
Offered to children from the age of one to ten years old
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate form of counselling for children age 3– 10 years old; however, with special training, children from birth can benefit from play therapy. The process of “play” is how children develop an understanding and learn to interact with their world. Thus, play therapy allows children to use their natural language of “play” as a method for processing difficult emotions, behaviours, and experiences.
Dr. Diana specifically practices the art of Jungian play therapy. According to Jungian play therapy, children will act out their lives when given the ability to freely play in a safe environment. Hence allowing the therapist to analyze the child’s play and come to understand the child’s hopes and fears.
What is the Play Therapy process?
During the play therapy session, the child may explore and interact with a wide array of toys available – which include a play kitchen, puzzles, dolls, etc – while the therapist observes the play. Based on the observation of the child’s play, the Jungian therapist is able to gain an understanding of the child’s personality and what emotions they may be experiencing.
Children frequently engage in spontaneous play with fantasy themes that represent the psychological struggles they are experiencing. To help children engage in spontaneous play, Dr. Diana has a play room set up with costumes, figurines, puppets, props, musical instruments, and art supplies that the children may freely play with during the session.
What is the role of parents in Play Therapy?
Parental involvement is crucial to the success of play therapy. The home environment has much influence the child’s development; thus, the goal of parental involvement is to positively help the child in their journey towards health and wholeness. After every three sessions with a child, Dr. Diana has a session with the child’s parents to help them understand the child’s issues and how they can help.
Who benefits from Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a gentle intervention for children who may be experiencing a range of difficulties that include:
- Anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem
- Children with developmental delays or learning disabilities
- Separation of divorce
- Insecure attachment
- Adoption or foster care
- Loss and grief
- Medical trauma or chronic illness
- Trauma and complex trauma
- Difficulties settling at school or with peer relationships
- Anger or aggression
Play is the highest level of child development. It is the spontaneous expression of thought and feeling - an expression which his inner life requires.
Friedrich Froebel
Play Therapy for Autism
What challenges do children with ASD face?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopment disorder. Individuals diagnosed with ASD range on a spectrum between low functioning and high functioning. Despite where individuals are on the spectrum, people with ASD face challenges when interacting and communicating with others. Children with autism prefer to play alone and engage in selected types of repetitive play. These children also struggle to understand others thoughts and feelings as well as how to understand the non-verbal cues of body language.
How can Play Therapy help children with ASD?
Play therapy cannot cure ASD; however, play therapy can be a useful technique in helping these individuals. Play therapy for children with autism focuses on helping the child transition from manipulative play to functional play by helping them to improve their social and emotional skills, enhance their way of thinking, develop appropriate language and communication skills, and engage in meaningful social interactions.
Dr. Diana—as a skilled Jungian play therapist—works closely with the child utilizing a child-centered approach. This child-centered approach allows the child to communicate and express themselves ad their own pace. In turn, the ASD child is empowered with a sense of autonomy that results from their ability to make choices and develop a sense of control over their environment.