Child-centered play therapy is an approach to therapy that centers your child’s natural language: play. Children communicate through play, and in play therapy, your child has the opportunity to “talk” and process their experiences in a developmentally appropriate way that honors their language.
In the textbook, Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.), Landreth (2023) defined child-centered 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.
Play therapy is typically targeted for children ages 3-12. Play therapy can be helpful in a variety of circumstances including:
Play therapy helps children build feelings, awareness, and expression. Children are able to explore past experiences, feelings and reactions, leading to an exploration of what they need or wish for. The child takes the lead in child-centered play therapy which allows for feelings of control and independence and a practice of decision-making and problem-solving without judgment. Children will also work on:
In the textbook, Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship (4th ed.), Landreth (2023) defined child-centered 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.
Play therapy is typically targeted for children ages 3-12. Play therapy can be helpful in a variety of circumstances including:
Play therapy helps children build feelings, awareness, and expression. Children are able to explore past experiences, feelings and reactions, leading to an exploration of what they need or wish for. The child takes the lead in child-centered play therapy which allows for feelings of control and independence and a practice of decision-making and problem-solving without judgment. Children will also work on:
A play therapy approach grows with your child. For younger children (chronologically or developmentally), bibliotherapy (reading books), puppets, sensory toys and pretend play toys are more appropriate. For older children, activity based interventions and board and card games lend themselves to a more relaxed way to engage in talk therapy.
We created Colors of Austin Counseling to be a group of like-minded BIPOC practitioners serving the community of individuals with identities and backgrounds similar to our own. Being fully understood and seen on your healing journey is of the utmost importance, yet it can be difficult for BIPOC individuals to find trusted therapists in their community. Our diverse and experienced team exists to fill that void and provide individuals with a wide range of methods and practitioners to choose from based on their unique needs and mental health goals.
