Play – A Prescription for Stressful Times
How Play Therapy Can Help Your Child and Family

By Nina M. Schroder, MSW, LCSW-C

Is your child having trouble sleeping, or concentrating?  Are they defiant, unhappy or having problems relating to their peers?  If the answer to these questions is “yes,” play therapy may help.

What is play therapy?

Play therapy is a therapeutic method of using play to help children express their emotions and find healthy ways to cope with stressful issues. Tracy Drescher, a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Registered Play Therapist (RPT), and Eastern Regional Director of Families United Network, Inc. in Muncy, Pa., explains that language and processing skills necessary for directly discussing emotions are not developed until the pre-teen to teenage years.  Therefore, for younger children (ages 0-12), play is a more natural form of communication. Moreover, children can better express uncomfortable feelings through play since toys and other fictional characters provide some space between the child and the problem with which they are struggling. This psychological distance helps to reduce the child’s sense of vulnerability and provides a safe environment for expressing their feelings.

What are some issues or problems that can be addressed through play therapy?

Play therapy can address a variety of emotional, social, and behavioral problems such as:

• Anxiety (symptoms may include excessive worry, trouble sleeping, lack of concentration, trouble sitting still, fear of separation, persistent physical complaints without medical cause)
• Depression (symptoms may include  prolonged unhappiness, withdrawal from others, lack of interest in activities previously enjoyed)
• Defiance and other discipline problems at home or school
• Abuse, neglect, and/or other trauma
• Attention problems
• Trouble relating to peers
• Anger issues, including temper tantrums, and explosive reactions
• Grief and loss
• Physical and learning disabilities
• Autism and other Pervasive Developmental Disorders
• Low-self-esteem
• Health problems

How is play therapy helpful?

According to the Association for Play Therapy, a national professional society based in the United States, play therapy can help children to identify and express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-solving skills, improve communication skills, and learn ways of relating to others. Play therapy can also help children to adjust to difficult life circumstances. Drescher, who also uses play therapy in her part-time private practice, emphasizes that children who are struggling emotionally, socially, or behaviorally should be considered in the context of their environment, as their issues may be symptomatic of stress within the family system such as: 

• Marital problems, separation, or divorce
• Financial stress in the home
• Relocation
• Domestic violence
• Separation from parents (e.g., military duty, incarceration, temporary foster care placement)
• Emotionally unavailable parents (due to work stress, mental illness, substance abuse, etc.)
• Death of a loved one
• Health or behavioral problems of a sibling or other family member(s)

May parents participate in play therapy?

Involvement of parents in their child’s therapy is crucial, according to Drescher.   While therapists vary on their preference for the degree of parental involvement, Drescher says that she likes to have parents involved as much as possible.  She believes that many issues may be “symptomatic of deeper issues” within the family, and that the family must work together to heal the problem(s).   Drescher maintains that she prefers to train parents in play therapy techniques since parents can be the best “change agents” for their family.

How many play therapy sessions are usually necessary to correct a problem?

The number of play therapy sessions that are necessary to see an improvement vary depending on the severity of the issue and the motivation of the family. 

How long is a play therapy session?

Therapy sessions are typically 30-50 minutes in length.

What is the cost of a session and is it covered by insurance?

An average cost of a therapy session is about $85, though costs will vary by therapist.  Insurance companies often cover play therapy, particularly if plans include mental health benefits.  Parents should call their insurance company to confirm if they have this coverage.

Which mental health professionals can utilize play therapy?

Many mental health therapists (state-certified professionals with at least a masters’ degree in counseling, social work, marriage and family therapy, or psychology) utilize play therapy techniques in their practice.  Drescher recommends that parents seek a therapist who has additional certification as a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), or at least has completed advanced training in play therapy.

Can play therapy techniques be helpful at home even if my child and family aren’t having major problems?

Drescher believes that parents can benefit from learning play therapy techniques to use in their home regardless of the severity of the issues facing children or the family.  Some anxieties and fears are a normal part of the developmental process and are appropriate responses to life’s circumstances.   Play in the home can promote strong communication and positive attachments between parents and children, which will help the family to cope with normal challenges.

Parents can learn play therapy techniques from a Play Therapist.  Drescher believes that parents sometimes “forget how to play,” and require guidance.  Learning techniques, such as how to reflect what a child says and allowing the child to take the lead rather than parent-directed play, can have positive effects on the child’s self-esteem, improve communication, and strengthen family relationships.

Are there websites available for parents to learn more about play therapy?

Parents may access the websites of the Association for Play Therapy (www.a4pt.org), or the Family Enhancement and Play Therapy Center (www.play-therapy.com) for more information.

Nina Schroder is a wife, mother, clinical social worker, and writer living in Arnold, MD.