When it comes to emotional and mental health issues, individuals have a lot of options when it comes to treatment. While this is the case, play therapy often works best for children. At the same time, there are more severe conditions which might require the assistance of a psychologist or psychiatrist.
By providing a safe method for young individuals to express experiences in a safe and self-guided process, therapists can learn a lot about a child. As children often communicate best when playing alone or with others, playtime is now considered an important aspect of childhood. In fact, therapists have now taken this to another step by monitoring children while playing alone or with others to diagnose a number of behavioral issues.
Play can also help children develop master skills when it comes to conquering innate abilities, thus leading to a sense of pride and self-worth. As children are driven to meet the essential need of exploration of an environment, playtime can often assist in this goal as well.
Playing can also contribute to the advancement and development of critical thought which can have major benefits when it comes to school and homework. In addition, it is often through playing with others that a child learns to display strong emotional responses and sentiments, many which can provide a feeling of relief. Most often, children do this through fantastical play which is not normally accepted in society at large.
Now considered a valid form of psychotherapeutic counseling, the therapy can assist adults and children in overcoming psychological challenges. When it comes to children, the goal is to help children become more comfortable with overcoming trauma, emotional health, growth, development and social interaction. For, the more a child learns how to interact with other children and adults, the more likely the child will behave and interact appropriately later in life.
The therapy can also be used as a tool for diagnosing a variety of conditions during childhood. In doing so, a therapist will observe a child playing with different types of toys to determine any disturbing or unusual behavior. In most cases, this play along with how the child interacts with the therapist can be used to determine if there are any behavioral issues present inside or outside therapy sessions.
According to several sources, children will engage in play in order to work through anxieties and emotional blocks. As a result, play oriented therapy then becomes a self-help mechanism which the child can use on an ongoing basis. While this is the case, a child must be allowed to play freely and without structure before any results can be seen with regards to the self-help process.
If a child shows distress, most therapists will use a type of relearning or desensitization therapy to change the behavior which caused the issue. Most often, those using this approach are hopeful that the process will lead to lasting change. Although, there are times when this approach can also backfire and therapists must seek out other methods to eliminate negative behavior.
Ultimately, playing has been recognized as a therapeutic tool since the time of Plato from 429 to 347 B. C., so basically since the beginning of time. For, Plato observed that individuals can learn more about a person in an hour of playtime than in a year of conversation. While this is the case, current therapies of this nature only became popular in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, though the popularity will most likely continue to carry forward well into the future.
By providing a safe method for young individuals to express experiences in a safe and self-guided process, therapists can learn a lot about a child. As children often communicate best when playing alone or with others, playtime is now considered an important aspect of childhood. In fact, therapists have now taken this to another step by monitoring children while playing alone or with others to diagnose a number of behavioral issues.
Play can also help children develop master skills when it comes to conquering innate abilities, thus leading to a sense of pride and self-worth. As children are driven to meet the essential need of exploration of an environment, playtime can often assist in this goal as well.
Playing can also contribute to the advancement and development of critical thought which can have major benefits when it comes to school and homework. In addition, it is often through playing with others that a child learns to display strong emotional responses and sentiments, many which can provide a feeling of relief. Most often, children do this through fantastical play which is not normally accepted in society at large.
Now considered a valid form of psychotherapeutic counseling, the therapy can assist adults and children in overcoming psychological challenges. When it comes to children, the goal is to help children become more comfortable with overcoming trauma, emotional health, growth, development and social interaction. For, the more a child learns how to interact with other children and adults, the more likely the child will behave and interact appropriately later in life.
The therapy can also be used as a tool for diagnosing a variety of conditions during childhood. In doing so, a therapist will observe a child playing with different types of toys to determine any disturbing or unusual behavior. In most cases, this play along with how the child interacts with the therapist can be used to determine if there are any behavioral issues present inside or outside therapy sessions.
According to several sources, children will engage in play in order to work through anxieties and emotional blocks. As a result, play oriented therapy then becomes a self-help mechanism which the child can use on an ongoing basis. While this is the case, a child must be allowed to play freely and without structure before any results can be seen with regards to the self-help process.
If a child shows distress, most therapists will use a type of relearning or desensitization therapy to change the behavior which caused the issue. Most often, those using this approach are hopeful that the process will lead to lasting change. Although, there are times when this approach can also backfire and therapists must seek out other methods to eliminate negative behavior.
Ultimately, playing has been recognized as a therapeutic tool since the time of Plato from 429 to 347 B. C., so basically since the beginning of time. For, Plato observed that individuals can learn more about a person in an hour of playtime than in a year of conversation. While this is the case, current therapies of this nature only became popular in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, though the popularity will most likely continue to carry forward well into the future.
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You can find a detailed overview of the advantages and benefits of using professional play therapy services at http://www.juliecast.net/Aboutme.html right now.
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