Play Therapy for Children
What is play therapy and how can it help my child?
Play is the emotional language of children. Play is the natural way children express their feelings. In a warm, caring therapy environment, children will process what they need in order to grow into expressive, emotionally in-tune and self-aware adults.
For children, play therapy is self-directed play that allows for the natural tendency toward development and growth. Children naturally express their inner most desires, joys, fears, insecurities, traumas and imaginations through the symbols in play. Play allows children to organize their experiences and express it safely. Not all children can speak to their inner most feelings because of development or because it may be too threatening. Play therapy is a healing, safe, and secure process.
Play Therapy for Children
My Theory About Children
I practice with a variety of Psychodynamic and Psychoanlytic theories in mind, but my primary theoretical focus is based on Gary Landreth’s Client-Centered Play Therapy (2002). I use two of his models as tenets of my practice.
- Children are not miniature adults and the therapist does not respond to them as if they were;
- Children are people; they are capable of experiencing deep emotional joy and pain;
- Children are unique and worthy of respect. The therapist prizes the uniqueness of each child and respects person they are;
- Children are resilient. Children possess a tremendous capacity to overcome obstacles and circumstances in their lives;
- Children have an inherent tendency toward growth and maturity. They possess an inner intuitive wisdom;
- Children are capable of positive self-direction. They are capable of dealing with their worlds in creative ways;
- Children’s natural language is play and this is the medium of self-expression with which they are most comfortable;
- Children have the right to remain silent. The therapist respects the child’s decision not to talk;
- Children will take the therapeutic experience to where they need to be the therapist does not attempt to determine where or how a child should play;
- Children’s growth cannot be sped up. The therapist recognizes this and is patient with the child’s developmental process
Play Therapy for Children
My Theory About Children
I practice with a variety of Psychodynamic and Psychoanlytic theories in mind, but my primary theoretical focus is based on Gary Landreth’s Client-Centered Play Therapy (2002). I use two of his models as tenets of my practice.
- Children are not miniature adults and the therapist does not respond to them as if they were;
- Children are people; they are capable of experiencing deep emotional joy and pain;
- Children are unique and worthy of respect. The therapist prizes the uniqueness of each child and respects person they are;
- Children are resilient. Children possess a tremendous capacity to overcome obstacles and circumstances in their lives;
- Children have an inherent tendency toward growth and maturity. They possess an inner intuitive wisdom;
- Children are capable of positive self-direction. They are capable of dealing with their worlds in creative ways;
- Children’s natural language is play and this is the medium of self-expression with which they are most comfortable;
- Children have the right to remain silent. The therapist respects the child’s decision not to talk;
- Children will take the therapeutic experience to where they need to be the therapist does not attempt to determine where or how a child should play;
- Children’s growth cannot be sped up. The therapist recognizes this and is patient with the child’s developmental process
Next Steps
Get In Touch
Phone
415.275.0293
EmeliaHaiken@gmail.com
Locations
San Francisco Office
2186 Geary Blvd, Suite 211
San Francisco, CA 94115