As adults, most people are able to express their concerns, feelings, ideas, beliefs, fears and insecurities through language.

We can do this because we have sufficient cognitive capacity to conceptualize and express orally abstract aspects and we understand what happens to us. This may not happen in the case of a child , since he or she may understand reality entirely or not know or dare to express it directly. This is what happens, for example, with children who have lived through situations such as sexual abuse or domestic violence.

Fortunately, it is possible through play therapy that this type of population can express their fears and conflicts in an indirect way. In the following we will see what this form of psychological intervention consists of.

Play as an element of communication and expression

If we look at a group of lions, a group of apes or even a group of people, we often see that, especially among the younger members, there are actions and behaviors that seem to have no apparent purpose other than to have fun. In other words, in a large number of species it is common to see play behaviors.

While some people may think that playing is just a waste of time, the truth is that play is of fundamental importance, especially in the developmental period. This type of action allows us to exercise and train our body and mind and develop different capacities such as cognition, psychomotor skills and communication between individuals .

In human beings, play helps to decrease the level of tension and increases the ability to bond with our environment, helping us to learn to relate and at the same time apply and improve our cognitive, emotional and social skills. In addition, it allows us to express the contents of our mind such as things we live, fears and insecurities that remain in our minds, desires and impulses.

Many experts have noticed this fact and have established that from the game it is possible to establish mechanisms and techniques that allow to analyze and help to treat different problems . These techniques can be used in the so-called play therapy.

Play therapy

Play therapy is a method used in psychology for the analysis and treatment of patients’ problems, generally in the case of children or subjects with neurodevelopmental disorders or severe intellectual disability.

It is based on the use of play as an element of communication, thanks to which the patient can come to exteriorize his or her emotions and experiences in a symbolic way. Not only does it serve as a mechanism of expression, but it allows the subject to process and work with the information at a conscious level and even to elaborate and/or learn ways to cope with them. Its operation is apparently simple, but it requires a high level of observation by the professional and the ability for the subject to feel safe and supported.

It is generally applied in a constant and more or less close way in time, such as weekly sessions in the office, school or even at the subject’s own home, usually on an individual basis. The therapist may conduct the session in a directive manner (directing the games) or non-directive if the child is allowed to play freely.

Previously, materials and toys are selected that allow the child to express himself and from which symbolism can be established , such as puppets, animals, toy houses, construction elements, clay or plasticine or musical instruments.

There is a lot of information to be extracted from the game. In addition to the symbolism that the subject himself imprints on the game, other aspects that can give interesting data are the tendency to use specific games or to act in a certain way during them, if the child includes the therapist in the game or ignores it, or if he or she takes up the games from the previous sessions or on the contrary starts a new game, these can be aspects to be evaluated.

If creative elements are used, it is also relevant if at the end of the game you try to preserve them or the therapist preserves them or destroys them. The significance of all these aspects will depend on the case.

Functions and benefits of play therapy

This type of therapy seeks to facilitate the expression of emotions and situations that the child finds difficult to express in words, either due to the trauma they cause or the lack of sufficient linguistic ability to do so. To this end, they resort to play, through which they can express their emotions, feelings and experiences in a symbolic way .

The play context also implies a positive climate that can favour the interaction of the therapist with the child, establishing a positive rapport that allows the patient to feel safe and trust the professional.

Furthermore, the participation of the professional in the game (which must be done from the child’s perspective and direction) allows the patient not only to express himself, but also to observe and acquire new behaviours and ways of seeing reality that he might not have thought of himself. It is useful to train social and emotional skills .

Finally, this type of therapy helps the patient not only to express what has happened, but also to process it and work on it later, as well as to build up resilience or resistance to adversity and to help him/her employ adaptive coping mechanisms and strategies.

Types of activities performed

There is a high degree of heterogeneity in the activities that can be carried out in a play therapy session. The specific type of activity will depend on the needs and preferences of the child. Among the most frequent play techniques and activities we can find different types of methods, of which some examples are presented below.

1. Toys based on symbolic expression

Using a dollhouse or symbolic elements such as a kitchen often causes children to act out situations similar to those they live in at home. Also, it is common to use stuffed animals and toy animals from which the child can play freely and introduce the therapist while explaining what is happening.

2. Dramatization

Role-playing and costumes also allow children to express their inner concerns through theatrical performance. Role-play or simulating specific situations can serve not only as a mechanism of expression, but also as exposure to conflicting situations and as modeling for learning how to act in response to them.

3. Methods linked to body expression

Such methods are especially important in the case of subjects who avoid or excessively seek physical contact. Within this group of techniques we can include dance, imitation or games in which fights or battles are represented (for example using toy swords).

4. Methods related to artistic creation and construction

Drawing, painting and the use of clay or plasticine are also frequent in the use of play therapy, offering valuable information and allowing the expression of your psyche. Other games that are usually used are those in which the patient has to elaborate or build something .

He can tell a story from visuals that are presented to him (for example, by presenting certain objects or drawings), use stories or employ building blocks such as LEGO figures or puzzles .

Situations and problems in which it is appropriate

Play therapy can be used for a wide variety of problems and disorders of various kinds, and in fact it is used in many areas of intervention.

Some disorders and situations in which it can be very useful are in the presence of emotional disturbances, anxiety, panic or low self-esteem. Children who have experienced traumatic events such as sexual abuse , domestic violence, abandonment of one or both parents, bullying or the death of loved ones can express and process their feelings and experiences with this type of therapy. It is also useful for processing, expressing the emotions that provoke and working on phenomena such as the divorce of parents, changes of address or economic precariousness.

Finally, it is also very helpful in children with communication problems and children with disorders such as ADHD, obsessions, autism, eating disorders or mood disorders such as depression.

In general this type of therapy causes a decrease in fear and anxiety, an increase in the feeling of control, self-confidence and social skills and the generation of new perspectives and coping strategies , as well as a substantial improvement in mood.

Bibliographic references:

  • Landreth, G.L .(1991). Play Therapy. New York.