Recently I’ve been reflecting on my work and how certain therapeutic approaches suit different people across the lifespan. One thing that is clear is that children are unique and they don’t often communicate the same way that adults do.
For example, if you imagine a therapy session, you may picture a therapist and adult sitting down and talking through their presenting issues, however this may be somewhat difficult to imagine if you replace the adult with a young child.
Those of you with regular direct contact with children may be aware that the words to express oneself openly and freely may not come as easily.
Through play, children learn about themselves and the world. It may not look like much to outsiders but there is a lot going on under the surface. In my work with young children, particularly through the ages of 2 to 12, I often turn to play-based therapy, most commonly a form of psychotherapy called Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT).
Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul.
Friedrich Froebel
In my therapeutic space I have a wide range of carefully selected toys and materials that a child can use. In CCPT sessions, the toys substitute for the child’s words and the materials can symbolise whatever the child wants them to. This provides an opportunity to communicate without having to use spoken language. The child can choose to engage with whatever it is that they are drawn to. Play Therapists observe how toys are used and will understand the child’s experiences by identifying themes through play. It’s not so much about the toys themselves, but how they are used. The therapist responds to what the child brings to the playroom.
It’s amazing what an adult can discover simply by following a child’s lead. I don’t necessarily believe that an adult knows best, I think that a child is an expert in their own life experiences. What has been identified by others as the child’s presenting issues may not be the same thing that is most concerning to themselves. Through play, children are given an opportunity to re-write their narrative while making sense of their experiences. They will also replay until they make sense of it, and through this repetition, they can re-build or build new neuropathways in the brain.
Something we know about brain development is that the higher parts of the brain which are related to things like communication, problem solving, logic and reasoning are the last to develop. Therefore using a directive approach that requires children to use this part of the brain is not developmentally appropriate as they are less likely to access it fully.
We can’t necessarily expect a child to use spoken language, particularly if they have experienced trauma before language development. Play therapy can build those lower neural pathways so that access to the higher parts of brain which are required for talk therapy can be achieved.
So while the child will likely heal and grow through the play therapy process, the non-directive nature of the work means that skills and behaviours aren’t directly taught. Further direct questions are not asked. I am aware that behaviours are a means of communication, so I am most interested in why we see certain behaviours. The focus is always on meeting the child’s needs.
Just like all therapeutic approaches, there is a lot of importance placed on building a therapeutic relationship and the therapeutic gains are made once the child feels safe and trusts the therapist. Children make sense of the world as well as themselves through relationship, and it is through such relationships that healing occurs.
If you would like more information about play therapy or other psychological services for your child or family, please contact me on 0466 310 856 or jovana@corekidstherapy.com.au
Jovana Nikcevic
Excellent read. It reminded me to allow my toddlers to lead their play, and to reduce my direction.
It always gives me hope when I am reminded that we can continue to build nueral pathways.
We are happy that you enjoyed reading our article, and that you took something away from it that you can implement with your own toddlers.