We are so thrilled to have her be so generous in sharing her expertise on play therapy with our readers.
For more information on Georgie please see the bottom of this article.
How Play Therapy Can Help Your Child
Did you ever notice that once children reach a certain age,
they start to play pretend, without anyone ever teaching them how to do it?
Sure, they need grown ups to teach them their colors and numbers and letters,
but for most children, playing pretend comes automatically. It’s
pre-programmed. Why? Because children’s brains help them learn about the world
through playing. Kids don’t learn the same way adults do. They must pretend to
comprehend.
Especially during the preschool years, children are spending
a lot of time imitating what they observe in the adult world in order to
understand how everything works. Young children use pretend play to answer
their biggest questions, like “What does a fire fighter do?” (Let’s dress up
like one), “When I go to the doctor, what will it be like?” (I’ll make you
better with my play doctor kit), “How does daddy make pancakes?” (I’ll cook in
my play kitchen just like daddy).
Because we know that play is a valuable and necessary part
of growing up, it makes sense that one of the best forms of therapy for
children relies on imaginative and creative play.
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy incorporates what comes most naturally to
children, expressing themselves in their play, in order to help children adjust
to major life changes or recover from difficult life experiences. There are
different types of play therapy, but the one I practice is called Child
Centered Play Therapy. “Child centered” means that the child directs the play,
decides which toys to use, makes up the stories and characters, and invites
others to join in. Allowing the child to set the agenda provides an opportunity
to prioritize what needs to be addressed first.
Who Does it Help?
Children come to Play Therapy with a variety of concerns.
Sometimes they are having a rough adjustment to a divorce, remarriage, adoption,
the birth of a new sibling, the death of a grandparent, moving house, or
starting a new school. Other times kids have had major stresses, like being in
a car accident or natural disaster, witnessing fighting, being hurt or abused,
or being bullied or picked on at school. Usually children are very resilient
and they do their best to get through these situations, but sometimes it can be
too much, even for healthy children. Kids’ feelings start to leak out: through
their behaviors, attitude changes, changes in eating or sleeping patterns,
developing headaches or stomach aches. Parents have often tried lots of things
already but the solutions just haven’t managed to “stick”.
How Does Play Therapy
Really Work?
As a Play Therapist, I have been specially trained to
communicate with children from 3 to 12 years old through the medium of
creativity. In a typical play therapy session, your child is invited into a
uniquely designed play area, where toys, art materials, puppets, and costumes
are available so that they can choose how they would like to play. Children use
their play therapy time to play pretend, creating imaginary worlds and stories where
they can re-live and re-explore aspects of their lives that may be too
difficult to talk about. When they are pretending, children can be in full
control, conquer their fears, rescue someone in distress, and be the hero of
their own stories. Children can go back in time and write their own happy
endings, and along the way, they build confidence and skills to adjust
positively to changes happening in life.
How do Children
Transfer New Skills from Play Therapy to Real Life?
Taking on new perspectives and looking at problems from many
angles in Play Therapy helps children make new connections that apply wherever
they are. They start to feel more confident in themselves, trusting their own
ability to handle big feelings and stressful situations. For the first time,
they have been able to face their most painful or scary experiences and realize
they made it through. They become independent thinkers who can ask adults for
help when they really need it. Before Play Therapy, their emotions tended to
escalate quickly, but now they can calm, soothe, and keep their logic when
upset. Kids develop new language for their thoughts and concerns and their
mature verbal ability brings them closer and more connected to family and friends.
They focus and try harder than before, not giving up so easily, because now
they know they can handle just about anything!
If you are taking care
of a child who has had a tough time with changes happening in life, you may
consider talking to a Play Therapist who can help. For questions about Play
Therapy and Play Therapy resources in your area, contact Georgie Wisen-Vincent
at georgie@petitplay.com.
ABOUT GEORGIE WISEN VINCENT
Georgie is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. Georgie is a clinician with 15 years experience in helping children and families find positive ways of relating. She lived in London where she completed her post-graduate work in Child-Centered Play Therapy at Roehampton University. She has used individual play therapy, creative arts therapy, family play therapy, trauma focused therapy and behavior modification in her work with children and teens in schools and nonprofit settings. Georgie has a private practice in Los Angeles, CA.
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