What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is useful for both children and adolescents.  Play is natural for children and when used in therapy, allows the child to explore and express their experiences and feelings.  Children often cannot language their feelings or do not want to “relive” their experience through words.  Play is a safe, familiar activity that enables them to process experiences and emotions.

How does Play Therapy Work?

Play therapists are trained to observe a child in their natural state of play.  The play therapist facilitates this “play” and allows the child to work through their experiences and emotions.

What is the Play Room?

The playroom is the area where your child is provided a safe and accepting environment to express their feelings.  They are able to “act out” their experiences utilizing various tools.  These tools include such things as toys, clay, puppets, dollhouse, art, and sandtray.  The play therapist is able to observe your child’s play and help them process their feelings. 

Would my Child Benefit from Play Therapy?

Children experience many “ups and downs” in life and may not have the skills to handle their emotions.  Often if not given the tools to work through life’s difficulties, children’s emotions “leak out” in other ways, such as behavior problems, anxiety, or depression.  Play therapy helps children gain tools to deal with such issues as:

• Social issues (friendship, school peers)

• Life adjustments (moves, new baby in family, school changes)

• Family issues

• Academic issues

• Poor self-esteem

• Behavioral problems (anger, aggression)

• Grief and loss

• Divorce

• Blended family

• Crisis (trauma from an accident, fire, abuse)

Other problems:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• ADHD

• Autism

• Medical conditions (including upcoming medical procedures/surgery)

To schedule an appointment with Bonnie Compton, please call 410-880-4215 and press 0 for the receptionist.