Play Therapy

What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is to children what traditional talk therapy is to adults. Since children's brains have not fully developed their cognitive capacities to organize and communicate thoughts in the way that adults are able to, expressive arts therapies like play therapy utilize children's natural medium of expression – play – to help them express their feelings more easily through toys instead of words. A trained play therapist is able to help decipher play themes and support children in preventing or resolving psychosocial difficulties expressed through the medium of play.

"Enter into children's play, and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet."

Virginia Axline, Pioneer of Play Therapy

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Trauma & Play Therapy (18 minutes):Play Therapist Paris Goodyear-Brown

Association for Play Therapy (1:24 minutes):What is Play Therapy?

What to Expect in Play Therapy

At The Perch Counseling, parents and caregivers are encouraged to be involved in their child's play therapy experience. This looks like participation in parent-child activities for a few minutes at the start and end of each play therapy session and periodic parent check-in and coaching sessions to discuss their child's therapeutic progress as well as ways they can support their child towards their therapeutic goals outside of the play therapy room.

"What one loves in childhood stays in the heart forever."

Mary Jo Putney

If play is the language of children, then the toys are their words. The play therapy room is equipped with various toys and expressive arts tools (art supplies, sand tray, sensory-based toys) to increase your child's access to the "words" they may need to express themselves. In the play therapy room, your child gets to be in charge, so we encourage you to engage in their play as a curious and empathic witness and observer when they invite you into their play. It is the play therapist's job to maintain healthy boundaries and safety in the room while embodying the core tenants of the Circle of Security parenting model: "Whenever possible, follow your child's lead. Whenever necessary, take charge."

The Play Therapy Space

It may be helpful to show these photos of the play therapy space to your child, as well as photos of their therapist, to help them prepare for what to expect. Let them know that you will join them for a few minutes of each of their sessions and will be waiting in the waiting room just outside the door during their session if they need you at any point during the session. The Perch Counseling encourages parents and caregivers to take turns bringing their child to their sessions when possible to allow for one-on-one focus and engagement.