Play Therapy

     I am a counselor who works with adults but specializes in children which means I get to utilize Play Therapy.  This often leads to many questions such as What is Play Therapy?  How does Play Therapy work?  So I'm paying you to play games with my child?
     Let me take a moment here and clarify some of these questions.  I have done extensive research on Play Therapy and its effectiveness.  Play is the universal language of children that not only allows children to have fun and communicate but can also provide therapeutic befits.  When a child is engaged in play, they feel more comfortable and their guard is down which allows them to open up more easily. Play Therapy offers children the opportunity to explore their emotions and problems at a distance which offers them a sense of safety from their struggles.
     I have done research on various techniques of Play Therapy as well as its effectiveness, however, I was not completely sold on its effectiveness until I saw it in action.  I was preparing my collection of Play Therapy games and decided I wanted to practice the skills before having the privilege of utilizing them in a session with a child client.  I pulled out my games and started playing them with my own children while paying specific attention to whether or not the questions were kid-friendly and relatable as well as how long a round takes.  I was ready to play and was not expecting any surprises as my boys and I have a very open communication.  The first few rounds with my oldest, who was about 6 years old at the time, went smooth and I was excited to use it in therapy sessions.  Next I played the game with my youngest who was about 4 years old.  As we played the game together, the question came up, "Show me how you feel when you are at school".  He chose the sad face with tears.  his response did not really shock me as he had been not wanting to go to school lately.  Whenever I questioned him about school and why he didn't want to go he would always respond with, "Because I want to be with you".  I told myself You're a counselor, you got this.  you can figure out what's going on.  He continued to struggle going to school but would give no other reason than him wanting to be with me.  I figured it a bit of separation anxiety.  As we continued to play the game, the next question was, "Why do you feel that way?"  My son continues on with the game like nothing as he explains to me that he is afraid that I am going to die while he is at school.  My heart sank!  I thought I had all the skills needed to figure out what was going on with my son and was asking all the right questions, but apparently I was not speaking his language…the language of PLAY.  You see, a few months prior to our game play, my grandmother had passed away which was a very difficult loss for me and one in which the boys remembered.  They asked questions and I answered as honestly as I could.  When they asked how she died, I explained that she was old and her body just stopped working.  Well, my young son had no concept of time and was fearful that while he was in school, I was going to get old and my body would stop working.  Play Therapy opened up a door for us that allowed my son the opportunity to express his fears as well as giving me the opportunity to see his concerns and offer him my support and comfort in those areas.  I was able to see first hand the effectiveness of Play Therapy in my own family.
     Throughout my time as a counselor, I have seen the effectiveness of Play Therapy on many children and I feel honored to be able to use the language of Play to offer hope and help to so many children.  Play Therapy is not just playing ages, but rather utilizing games as an open door for children to express themselves and their problems.  Children experience a variety of emotions but are too young to identify or express those emotions let alone understand them.  Play Therapy makes those emotions tangible for kids to see, to touch, to manipulate which then empowers them to be able to learn how to control their emotions rather than letting their emotions control them.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Counselor,

Lynn Leinhos, MS, LLPC