What is play therapy?
Play therapy is a method of therapy that uses play to help an individual deal with their behavioral and mental health issues. Learn how play is not all about fun but a great way to understand children's world with the help of a play therapist.

Play therapy is a form of counseling or psychotherapy that makes use of play to assess psychological issues, including preventing or treating it. Although it can also be used with adults, play therapy is primarily used for children. It's because children do not have enough ability to process their emotions or discuss their problems with their parents.

Play therapy is used by licensed mental health professionals like psychologists and psychiatrists. Play is also utilized by therapists for behavior, physical, and social workers. It is often used to assist the child to process stressful life events. They play to observe the child's problem and gain insights on how to help them deal with their emotions or trauma. Using play, the child can learn to cope with and correct their inappropriate behaviors. To be able to deal with children using play therapy, licensed professionals must undergo specialized training programs.

When is play therapy used?
Although adults can also benefit from play therapy, it is mainly used for children of ages from 3 to 12. Playing therapy can be helpful in circumstances such as children facing some medical procedures or chronic illness, including children who have language development delays or learning disabilities. Play therapy is also used for kids who have behavior problems in school, children who have aggressive or angry behavior, facing some family issues, experiencing natural disasters, domestic violence, abuse, or neglect. Play therapists also use it for kids who have eating or toileting disorders, ADHD, autism, and anxiety.