Questions about Play Therapy in Houston? We have Answers.
Maybe you’re a Houston parent whose child’s teacher has just suggested play therapy to help your little one behave better at school. Or you might have a child who’s experienced trauma, is struggling more than you’d like with everyday situations, or who is more angry and sad than happy. Your pediatrician/teacher/neighbor has suggested play therapy, and you’re up for getting your kid the help they need. But, and you’re a little embarrassed to admit it, you’re not exactly sure 1) what play therapy actually IS 2) how it can help or 3) how to go about finding it in Houston.
We Have the Answers to Houston’s Questions about Play Therapy
Play therapy is a field that’s been around for a while, but it’s one that many adults may not know much about. In the fifteen years our practice has been focusing on providing play therapy to Houston’s children (and helping their parents, too), we’ve heard A LOT of questions, and none of them were bad ones. Here are a few more common ones about therapy for children, along with answers we hope will help clear things up.
What is play therapy?
We’re glad you asked. Play therapy is a way of working with children in a developmentally appropriate way. It’s based on the fact that kids play more easily than they can verbalize what’s happening for them, the way adults do when they go to therapy. Kids get a chance to “play out” their thoughts, feelings, and ideas in play therapy.
How does play therapy work?
As kids play with a specially trained therapist, they get a chance to express their feelings, make sense out of things that have happened to them, and to master difficult reactions or emotions. It also can be incredibly effective and helpful to have someone there just for them when they’re going through a difficult time. Adults often think of childhood as an idyllic phase of life and don’t remember the hard parts. Kids are navigating tough stuff all the time and can use someone in their corner to listen.
Do you tell kids how to play or what to do?
Usually, kids are in charge of what they play in a counseling session. Sometimes, a play therapist might have a game or activity to help the child in their progress, but even then, the child is able to express themselves (or not!) as they’d like to. Play therapy is a place designed to be for kids to lead and adults to follow.
It sounds like nothing “real” is happening in a play therapy session. Why should I bring my child to them?
Appearances can be deceiving, especially to logical, adult eyes. But what kids get out of their counseling sessions can be powerful--they can develop recognition of their feelings, increase their ability to express themselves, and understand their experiences better through their play. All of these things can translate to kids who can regulate their emotions and behaviors more easily outside of play therapy sessions. The Association for Play Therapy says that “research suggests that play therapy is an effective mental health approach, regardless of age, gender, or the nature of the problem, and works best when a parent, family member, or caretaker is actively involved in the treatment process.” We agree--we see it all the time at our play therapy office.
Speaking of having a parent involved--how do I know what’s happening with my child’s treatment if I’m not in the play therapy room with them?
Most child counselors want to give children their privacy but know that it’s vital that their adult caregivers be in the loop. Because at our practice we don’t like to talk about kids in front of them, we don’t do the “waiting room discussion.” Instead, we maintain open channels of communication with parents during regularly scheduled appointments (and by email or phone call if you need to touch base). Those give us a chance to have you fill us in on what’s happening outside the play room and we can give you updates and ideas for maximizing your child’s progress outside of play therapy sessions.
How long does it take for things to get better?
It takes a few sessions for children to get to know and trust their play therapists and then several more for them to work on what’s hard for them. We stay in touch with parents and monitor how things are going outside of play therapy sessions. We expect for kids to improve and when they do, we introduce the idea of ending sessions to parents before we talk to kids about it. If we’re all on the same page, we talk to kids about it and give them an idea of when we’ll be stopping (usually in two to three more sessions). It’s a truth that sometimes things get worse before they get better--hang in there, it doesn’t mean it’s not working--sometimes just the opposite is true!
What should I tell my child about coming to play therapy?
First, good for you for wanting to keep your child in the loop about what’s happening for them! Second, you can tell them that you know that (fill in the blank) has been hard for them lately, and you’ve found a grownup called a play therapist to help. You can let them know a play therapist’s whole job is to help kids who have worries or concerns. Your child counselor can let you know the structure of the intake so you can describe it to your child before you come. At our office, kids get to play with their therapist during the intake--no tests, not a lot of questions, just come and be themselves. (Parents meet with the child counselors privately, so we’re not talking about kids in front of them.)
How do I find a play therapist?
Lots of professionals can refer you to a qualified child counselor, including pediatricians, school professionals and other psychotherapists. Friends and neighbors might have good ideas, and online resources like Psychology Today and the Association for Play Therapy offer find a therapist features on their websites. You can read more about it on our website here.
Want to Know More About Houston Play Therapists?
We hope you’ve gotten some ideas that make sense in your search for a play therapist in Houston. If you want more information, call us at (713) 936-0633 and schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. We love helping kids and parents find what they need, and if we’re not the right fit for your child’s play therapy, we can give you suggestions for someone who might be.