Play therapy is a highly effective technique that involves using children’s play interactions to resolve difficulties, encourage growth, and promote healing. Children often are unable to verbally express their feelings. Play is the child’s language and toys are the words used to express and explain a child’s world. Play therapy, conducted by a trained play therapist, offers children the opportunity to process and assess appropriate coping skills, behaviors, and world views.

Sand can be a sensory experience that encourages a child’s natural expression of emotions and regulation. Many children are unable to put their thoughts and emotions into words. The nonverbal and unstructured nature of the sand tray experience allows children to freely develop their own expressions of situations. Children feel safe because, even though they are creating their own internal worlds, their creations are thought of as separate or “make-believe”. It is easier for a child to create a scene in a sand tray than it is to talk about the issue. Subconsciously, the child can make the connections to their own life and begin to work through their problems.

The skills and techniques used in play therapy can be your path to ending your worries and doubts and to becoming happy and emotionally healthy children and parents.

What makes play therapy so effective is the relationship formed between the therapist and the child. A play therapist spends several weeks developing a bond or connection with the child. The child sees that no judgments about him or his behaviors are made. The child learns that he is unconditionally accepted and feels safe to work through his issues. As a parent, you can learn these same skills and build a strong relationship with your child.

Research tells us that even if a traumatic event occurs at a young age, the body and mind keep the score. These adverse experiences have a negative impact on child development and, without intervention, can have negative impacts on a person’s physical and mental health as they age.
Luckily, early intervention is available! We do not have to wait for the brain to be fully developed to verbally process trauma. Much of a traumatic experience, and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress that occur after the experience, are nonverbal and therefore difficult to describe in words for an adult or child.

In addition to being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Registered Play Therapist, I hold a post graduate certificate in Equine Assisted Mental Health from the University of Denver’s Institute for Human-Animal Connection. Utilizing this certificate, I also provide play-based psychotherapy in a nature-based setting. This setting allows access to nature during therapy and provides the opportunity for equine interactions during psychotherapy. The setting and interactions can enhance the therapy process and individual treatment goals by increasing access to nature, movement, somatic and sensory experiences, and connection. Together we can decide which setting is the best fit for you and your child.