Charlotte Counseling for Child/Play Therapy

Finding a Therapist for Child/Play Counseling in Charlotte

Child/Play Therapy refers to a variety of methods of capitalizing on children’s natural urge to explore and harnessing it to meet and respond to their mental health needs. It is also used for forensic or psychological assessment purposes when the individual is too young or too traumatized to give a verbal account of adverse, abusive, or potentially criminal circumstances in their life. Play therapy is acknowledged by specialists as a very effective intervention in complimenting children’s personal and inter-personal development. Play and play therapy are generally utilized with children aged six months through late adolescence and young adulthood. Both provide a contained way for them to express their experiences and feelings through an imaginative self-expressive process in the context of a trusted relationship with a therapist. As children’s and young people’s experiences and knowledge are usually communicated through play, it is an essential tool for personality and social development. If you are interested in Child/Play Therapy in the Charlotte area, a consultation with the therapists at the Bareiter Counseling Center can help.

Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy which uses play as the main mode of communication with children to determine and overcome psychosocial challenges. It is aimed at assisting patients toward better growth and development, social integration, decreased aggression, emotional modulation, social skill development, empathy, and trauma resolution. Play therapy also assists with sensory motor development and coping skills. 

Play Therapy as a Diagnostic Tool

Play therapy can be used as a tool for diagnosis. A play therapist observes a client playing with toys (dolls, stuffed soft toys, playhouses, etc.) to determine the cause of the upsetting behavior. The objects and patterns of play, as well as the willingness to interact with a therapist, can be used to better understand the underlying rationale for behavior both inside and outside of the therapy sessions.

Children will engage in play behavior to work through their anxieties. Play therapy can be used as a self-regulating mechanism, as long as children are allowed time for free-play (unstructured). A more direct approach to play therapy calls for the use of a type of desensitization or re-learning therapy, to change troubling behaviors, either systematically or through a less structured approach. The hope is that through the language of symbolic play, such desensitization may take place, as a natural part of the therapeutic experience, and lead to positive treatment outcomes.

Signs Your Child May Need Therapy

• Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
• Constant anger and a tendency to overreact to situations.
• Persistent worry, anxiety, or fearfulness.
• Preoccupation with physical illness or their own appearance.
• Experiencing regular nightmares.
• Sudden drop in grades at school.
• Reclusiveness – preferring to be alone rather than in the company of friends or family.
• Dieting obsessively, or binging followed by vomiting.
• Expressing thoughts of suicide.

Psychological counseling can help with many of these issues. The trained professionals at the Bareiter Counseling Center in Charlotte can help. Our therapists will carefully listen to your concerns about your child and suggest a plan of action.

Stages of Play Therapy

The first stage of Play Therapy is commonly referred to as the initiation phase or exploratory stage. This is the most crucial time in your child’s journey as it lays the foundation for future therapeutic work to occur. These initial sessions are spent building a trusting relationship and fostering an environment of safety for your child to express themselves freely. Children learn what to expect in each session, develop a bond with the therapist, and become familiar with the toys and techniques that will be utilized. Once your child feels comfortable expressing themselves, understands their role in the process, and has developed the security required for further therapeutic work, they move into the next stage of play therapy.

The next stage is referred to as the resistance phase, aggressive stage, or negative reaction stage. Here the central therapeutic issues that are causing the behavioral symptoms to occur become the focus of treatment. Children are confronted with the recognition of their maladaptive habits, and they have to make the decision to put in the work or keep fighting because it feels difficult. This stage is highlighted by emotional self-expression, as they are learning how to communicate what they are feeling. Children might have more emotional outbursts, desire more control, make more mistakes, and regress in their behaviors they’ve previously mastered. These signs are all part of developing emotional intelligence, confidence in self, self-control, and discovering more adaptive ways of interacting with others.

The growing phase or work phase is the next stage. This is usually the longest phase of play therapy. Your child is ready to put in the hard work required for personal growth. They are learning, healing, stepping out of their comfort zone, and making changes. You will notice positive advances in their self-esteem, behaviors, communication, and overall outlook on life. They will utilize effective coping skills with little prompting, demonstrate self-regulation, and build resiliency and flexibility with change.

The last phase is called the termination phase. This occurs when children are consistently demonstrating their new skills with ease, and behavioral and emotional needs have stabilized. Your child is now equipped and prepared to handle what life throws at them, and your therapist will create opportunities in the last sessions for a happy and healthy closure. Children will reflect on their journey in the playroom and develop further confidence in all that they have accomplished. This is a time of celebration!

A trained therapist can use playtime to observe and gain insights into a child’s problems. The therapist can then help the child explore emotions and deal with unresolved behaviors. Through play, children will learn new coping skills and how to redirect inappropriate behaviors. Schedule a consultation with the leading Charlotte Child/Play therapists at the Bareiter Counseling Center today.