What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy Works!
Dr. Nick Cornett, PhD, LPC, RPt
Dr. Nick Cornett, PhD, LPC, RPt
An informational video, from the Association of Play Therapy, explaining the value of play, benefits of Play Therapy and the importance of finding credentialed Play Therapists (RPTs).
Dr. Nick Cornett, PhD, LPC, RPt
Dr. Nick Cornett, PhD, LPC, RPt
Dr. Nick Cornett, PhD, LPC, RPt
Dr. Nick Cornett, The Therapy Guy, talks about the basics of Play Therapy and answers frequently asked questions.
Association for Play Therapy
Dr. Nick Cornett, PhD, LPC, RPt
Association for Play Therapy
FAQs about Play Therapy
Center for play therapy at UNT
Center for play therapy at UNT
Center for play therapy at UNT
The University of North Texas Center for Play Therapy provides more detailed information about Play Therapy and share two short videos: one for children and one for parents about Play Therapy
TEDx Talk
Center for play therapy at UNT
Center for play therapy at UNT
Trauma & Play Therapy: Holding Hard Stories with Paris Goodyear-Brown, MSSW, LCSW, RPT-S.
Website Article
Center for play therapy at UNT
Website Article
New York TImes article, "Play Therapy Can Help Children Speak the UnSpeakable"
5 Things Most People Don't Know About Play Therapy
#1 Play Therapy is all about the relationship
The most important ingredient for effective therapy is the relationship between the child and play therapist NOT the toys or the way in which children choose to play. This therapeutic relationship can take some time to build depending on the child and their unique circumstances and personality. The feeling of safety that is created when this caring relationship is formed is crucial for the child to dare to explore their inner world. Play therapists are trained and experienced at building this trusting relationship. (It's their favorite part!)
#2 Play therapy changes the brain
The brain is plastic and is molded by our experiences. The brain is most malleable during childhood. With a skilled Play Therapist, the child’s brain can re-wire itself through the new positive experiences in the playroom. By keeping a caring, safe relationship and environment contained in the playroom, Play Therapists are able to strengthen these new neural pathways in the brain. In the playroom, the child gets to experience the feelings of safety and connection, while also gaining a sense of inner security. It is imperative for children to experience safety and security before they can tolerate uncertainty and chaos in the outside world. Play therapy helps a child integrate implicit and explicit memory, the neo cortex and subcortical brain, the left hemisphere and right hemisphere along with many other areas. An integrated brain is key for mental wellness.
#3 play therapy is instinctive and comes in many forms
Drawing, molding Play-Doh, banging a toy hammer, spinning in circles, creating a world in the sand tray. These activities are all instinctive, natural, and rewarding. In the playroom, it is not about the outcome but about being in the moment. So putting on a puppet show, role playing, pretending to be a fireman, cooking a meal, and even dancing to music can all be included during play in the playroom! Play stimulates the emotional circuits in our brain and it is essential for a child's development.
#4 Children learn from play, But we do not directly teach
Although there is a time and place for being directive, most of the time Play Therapists are non-directive and child-centered, which means we let the child lead. They facilitate a child's play with the goal of helping the child learn more about themselves and see their actions and emotions in a new way. Children innately learn new things in every thing they do!
Self awareness, problem solving, self-regulation, motor skill mastery, storytelling, empathy and self esteem are just some of the magnificent lessons that children can learn from play therapy.
#5 Play Therapy taps into deep emotions
Play is one of the deeply embedded motivational circuits (located in the brain stem and limbic system). We all love to learn through play. The play circuit lives deep in the brain in the same regions that process emotion and our non conscious responses such as breathing, heart rate and hormonal regulation. A child’s brain develops with the play drive as a top priority (which shows it’s importance for further development). Play therapists meet the child where they are at in terms of their emotional experience when it gets triggered through playful exploration. The therapist will co-regulate with the child and work creatively to make sense of their feelings using children's natural language, which is play of course! Through play, play therapists tap into the emotional life of the child by activating the same regions of the brain.