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Play therapy is an effective therapeutic method that can be used alongside other treatments or by itself. It is commonly utilized by mental health professionals to support children dealing with behavioral, cognitive, or emotional issues that disrupt their daily functioning, development, and quality of life.
Establishing a safe and trustworthy environment is crucial for successful play therapy. Children must feel secure and free to express themselves during sessions. Various methods can be employed to integrate play therapy into your practice, such as mimicry play, imaginative play, building blocks, and toys designed to enhance fine motor skills. Physical activities, like guided sports, can also play a role.
Play therapy can assist clients facing a range of mental health issues and life challenges. This includes but is not limited to behavioral problems, conduct disorders, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders. It can also be beneficial for individuals coping with grief, trauma, natural disasters, crises, divorce, and other significant changes in their family dynamics.
One distinctive aspect of play therapy is its applicability to young children and those with developmental delays. While talk therapy is typically used for older adolescents, teens, and adults, younger children might lack the awareness or vocabulary to convey their thoughts and feelings effectively. Play therapy allows them to reveal their world in a manner that is relatable to them, which can help alleviate frustration for both the child and the therapist in developing treatment strategies.
Explore all of our Play Therapy Worksheets
Prepping for Your First Play Therapy Session with a New Client
Before your initial meeting with a new client, it’s beneficial to review any information you have gathered in advance. Depending on your setting, you might have access to referral documentation, psychiatric evaluations, or intake assessments. This will provide insights into the specific challenges your new client may face, allowing you to think about what you could include in the first session.
Sometimes, you will have enough information to come up with ideas for your session. In other cases, utilizing clinical worksheets can help direct sessions and encourage participation. TherapyByPro serves as a valuable resource for mental health professionals, providing various Play Therapy Worksheets that can be applied. Consider how these worksheets align with your client’s symptoms, struggles, and treatment objectives.
Examples of worksheets that could be utilized during a session include:
Lastly, remember to check in on your own well-being. Ensure that basic needs such as hydration and hunger are met, so you can be fully present for your client. Some professionals find it helpful to practice mindfulness, stretch, or take a brief walk to clear their minds and sharpen their focus. The work of mental health professionals is commendable and can sometimes be challenging. We suggest using supervision and fostering peer relationships to address your own emotional needs.
What Questions Should I Ask During Play Therapy?
You might be curious about what questions to pose during play therapy sessions. The inquiries you make will depend on various factors, including your client’s age, level of distress, and the specific play therapy techniques you are implementing. Here are some examples of questions you could ask:
- Can you show me where in the body your character feels sad?
- Can you explain how your character is feeling right now?
- Is there any backstory to this scenario that you’d like to share?
- What do you think might happen next?
- Could the situation or event have played out differently?
- What do you believe your character is thinking at this moment?
- How do you feel after doing this activity?
- What would you have preferred to happen differently for your character?
- How might you have reacted if you were in your character’s position?
- What role might another character play in this story?
- How would the story change if your character made different choices?
- Can you think of something that could help your character feel better?
- How would your character behave if they were upset or angry?
- Are there any rules in this game that you wish could be altered?
- Can you describe what you are creating?
- Are you basing your building on something you’ve seen before?
- What aspects of playing this game do you enjoy?
- Who else do you think would enjoy this game?
- How are you feeling while we play this game?
- If you could be any superhero, who would it be and why?
- What superpower would you want to possess, and why?
- What was something you liked about playing today?
- Did anything during our time together prove to be a challenge for you?
- Is there something we could have done to make it more enjoyable?
- What made your character happy in the story?
- Can you demonstrate how your character would talk to their friends?
- How can your character show kindness to others?
- How would your character feel if someone showed them kindness?
- Do you think your character managed the situation well?
- Why did you choose to play this game today?
- Can you tell me about the character you’re playing with?
- Can you tell me about your character’s best friend?
- What would your character do if they met someone new?
- Is your character afraid of anything?
- Can…
“““html- Could you share what you created?
- Does your structure symbolize anything?
- What vision do you have for this project?
- How do you envision your idea taking shape?
- Can you demonstrate how the components interconnect?
- How will you recognize when your project is complete?
- If you had unlimited blocks, what would you create?
- What emotions do you experience when you view your project?
- If you wanted to elevate your structure, how would you go about it?
- What would it be like to construct this in a different way?
- When designing a home, what elements do you think are essential?
- How can one determine the sturdiness of a building?
- Are there modifications you could implement to make your structure more enjoyable?
- What feelings arise when your assembly turns out as you’d hoped?
- What would occur if you shifted this part?
- Can you create various types of structures?
- If you could alter the colors of your building, which ones would you select?
- What emotions do you feel upon seeing your completed structures?
- How would you construct a bridge using these blocks?
- What changes would occur if you used the same type of blocks for the entire project?
- Are there ways to modify the blocks to enhance playability?
- What do you find to be the most challenging part of feeling sad?
- What qualities do you think make your character feel courageous?
- How do you believe your character would react to receiving a hug?
- Can you express how you feel when reflecting on that moment?
- Tell me about a moment you felt proud of yourself.
- If you could relive any day, which one would you choose?
- What does happiness look like to you?
- How might your character demonstrate confidence?
- How do you think your character would feel if someone was unkind to them?
- What would your character’s response be to bullying?
- Can you describe a time when you enjoyed expressing your creativity?
- Can you illustrate how you like to play at home?
- Are there any toys or games that you don’t find enjoyable?
- If you could pretend to be anyone else for a day, who would you choose and why?
- Do you prefer playing with others or by yourself?
- Who is your favorite playmate?
- Can you share the most fun you’ve had while playing with someone?
- What game or toy would you like us to play during our time together?
- Can you explain how you express your imagination?
- Is there anything else you’d like to tell me today?
Concluding Thoughts on Effective Questioning in Play Therapy
We appreciate your interest in the common questions posed during play therapy sessions! Play therapy serves as a crucial method for mental health practitioners who engage with children. It’s essential to connect with kids at their level and communicate in a way they can relate to. With tailored treatment methods, we can support children in managing overwhelming emotions and various difficulties they face.
This therapeutic approach is adjustable, allowing practitioners to adapt the techniques used to fit each child’s developmental stage and interests, encouraging engagement while creating a safe environment. It can also be integrated with other therapeutic modalities when suitable, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), behavioral therapy, family therapy, and attachment-based therapy, when developmentally appropriate.
If you work with children or wish to explore how play therapy can enhance your practice, we recommend seeking out continuing education and training sessions relevant to your field.
TherapyByPro is an online mental health directory that connects mental health professionals with individuals seeking help. If you’re a practitioner, feel free to join our community and add your practice here. We offer assessments, practice forms, and worksheets to help streamline your work. Check out all our mental health resources here.
Explore all our Play Therapy Worksheets
Resources:
- Koukourikos K, Tsaloglidou A, Tzeha L, Iliadis C, Frantzana A, Katsimbeli A, Kourkouta L. An Overview of Play Therapy. Mater Sociomed. 2021 Dec;33(4):293-297. doi: 10.5455/msm.2021.33.293-297. PMID: 35210953; PMCID: PMC8812369.
- Why choose play therapy? – Association for Play Therapy. Association for Play Therapy. (n.d.). https://www.a4pt.org/page/WhyPlayTherapy
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