Play therapy is a type of therapy that honors the individual's developmental level. Our brains are not considered fully developed until approximately age 25. Traditional "talk therapy" appeals to a higher level of thinking than what a child's brain is able to embrace. Play is a child's natural language. Through the use of carefully selected toys, art, sand and games, children are able to work through internal conflict and improve social emotional development. Typically, weekly sessions are recommended over a period of 10 to 20 weeks. The number of sessions will vary based on the individual's needs and concerns.
For more information on play therapy, please review the videos below published by the American Association for Play Therapy.
Not only do children benefit from play therapy, but adults also can experience positive change through a type of play therapy using sand and figures called Sandtray therapy. The right side of our brain is where trauma, feelings and emotions are held, and the left part of our brain is our language and logic center. We first process the world in images and pictures, but those experiences are often not connected to the left part of our brain until we are able to put language to those images, pictures and feelings. Sandtray therapy helps with integrating the feeling and thinking parts of our brain thus providing a cathartic and healing experience.