Many kids experience similar emotions as adults. However, these feelings are often complicated for children and hard for them to understand.
Children often lack the vocabulary to express feelings of sorrow, anger, frustration, fear and uncertainty.
When kids cannot find the words to express themselves, their feelings and their thoughts, play therapy – a language most children understand – may help.
Grief, trauma, anxiety and other social challenges could be keeping your child from expressing themselves.
Read more below on play therapy at Ann Arbor Therapy & Testing.
How play therapy is used as a form of communication
Some children struggle with talking about their feelings, much more than adults. They may even find it difficult to understand why they feel a certain way or why something is bothering them.
Play therapy can be effective for children as it focuses on something they tend to understand and enjoy – playing.
Playing is a common and natural part of being a child.
Play therapy uses play-based methods to help kids understand their feelings and may be a viable option to help address:
- Fear, excessive worry and anxiety
- Behavioral changes and challenges both at home and school
- Challenges expressing emotions
- Emotional outbursts and frustration
- Challenges adjusting to things like parents divorcing and other family dynamic changes
- Grief, sorrow or loss
- Self-confidence issues
- School trauma or stress
- Post traumatic stress disorder
- Issues with making friends or interacting with peers
- Changes in behavior or mood
Ann Arbor Therapy & Testing is a compassionate clinic that provides mental health services to adults, teens, kids and families. And for kids, play therapy is often a successful treatment option.
We take pride in individualizing treatment plans to each patient’s unique situation and goals. And everything we do is rooted in helping patients grow and succeed.
Our therapy is evidence-based and aims to assist with:
- Strengthening relationships through improved communication
- Reducing issues with behavior
- Enhanced self-expression
- Promoting healing and gaining emotional control
- Gaining valuable problem-solving skills
- Enhancing confidence and self-esteem
- And much more
A safe and peaceful space is key in play therapy, as is the kindness and compassion of our therapists who have much experience working with children.
A consultation can offer more information as to whether play therapy is right for your child.
Therapy to help your child express themselves
If you are noticing changes in your child’s behavior or signs of withdrawal or even behavioral issues, you may want to consider play therapy.
It is important to know that therapy does not mean that something is wrong and it is not a means of labeling a child, but rather, it offers insight into resources and tools to help your child grow and express themselves better.
By providing a safe outlet for expressing oneself in a way that is comfortable, greater understanding can be had.
Our compassionate and skilled therapists can offer the expertise to guide your child in expressing their words and feelings. And help you to understand your child better.
Please contact Ann Arbor Therapy & Testing today to schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting you and your child.