What is it? A form of psychological evaluation and treatment designed to elicit information and help children address their challenges in a comfortable environment that feels safe to them.  By placing a child in a setting specifically created to be a child-friendly play area, children are able to feel relaxed and thus less guarded and apprehensive.  It is a technique proven to allow children to feel more at ease, and thus more open to discussing their fears, concerns, worries and challenges. 

Who will benefit? Every child who has fears, concerns, worries or challenges to resolve will benefit from play therapy.  Children are not equipped with the tools to evaluate, recognize or articulate either their challenges or the causes of their challenges. They need to be able to be evaluated in a natural setting by a practitioner experienced in this area, who is specifically trained to use these scenarios to elicit relevant and candid information and then put these observations into a context for purposes of diagnosis and treatment. 

Some examples of problems typically able to be improved and resolved through child play therapy include, but are not limited to, the following:

Separation or Divorce –  Often children are greatly affected by the dissolution of their family unit, occasioned by the separation or divorce of their parents.  These circumstances are sometimes exacerbated by the child being moved frequently from one residence to another or by being placed in the middle of parental discourse.  This can often be extremely difficult for a child who loves both parents and does not comprehend all of the complicated issues surrounding this extraordinary life change. Play therapy will assist children in this situation to acknowledge their concerns and develop strategies to help them manage the inevitable stress of these situations, while simultaneously developing skills that will be relevant and effective throughout their childhood and into their adult lives.

Life Transitions – Children often have serious difficulties with transition, whether it be attending a new school, moving to a new neighborhood, a new home or a new city. It is imperative that they are able to pinpoint the root of their stress, and develop methods to recognize, express and cope with their feelings.

Birth/Adoption of a Sibling or Blending of a Family – Adding a new member to any family will certainly offset the balance in the family and can also cause children significant stress and anxiety. Children may feel insecure and threatened by the necessity to share attention with the new baby or children. It is imperative that they are able to pinpoint the root of their stress, and develop methods to recognize, express and cope with their feelings.  These skills will help them in the immediacy of the situation, but will also carry forward into their adult lives.

Special Issues Facing Adopted Children  – There are often unique issues and challenges which adopted children face, including fears of abandonment, rejection, detachment, and in certain cases, issues associated with being from a different culture, looking and feeling dissimilar from your family, etc. Therapy can help parties address these concerns directly and can help adoptive parents better understand and handle these complex and often very painful issues.

Power Struggles/Temper Tantrums – While testing limits is a normal part of childhood, the resulting power struggles can also be a complex and difficult issue for both parents and children. Therapy can help parents better understand a child’s desire and need to feel in control and find ways to relinquish and allow a child to have some control, thus hopefully helping to avoid these difficult situations. Therapy will also provide the tools necessary to effectively manage a tantrum should one occur and help parents manage their own feelings and reactions.

How does it work? Play Therapy creates a situation where children communicate their feelings, emotions, fears and concerns almost as if in the third person, by using toys to express what they are uncomfortable expressing directly. The information they disclose in this unguarded setting is then interpreted and put into context by the licensed play therapist, who is specifically trained to elicit useful information relevant to diagnosis and treatment.  

How do I get started? By calling 813-784-2442, to schedule an initial consultation, which will consist of a mutually convenient in-person meeting with licensed psychotherapist Carrie Cohen.  It is generally preferable that both parents attend the initial meeting, however extenuating circumstances can be accommodated.