PSYCHOTHERAPY ASSIGNMENT: 1. Effectiveness of play therapy on various psychiatric disorders. “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” - Plato Introduction: The Association for Play Therapy defined play therapy as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development” Play therapy refers to a method of psychotherapy with children in which a therapist uses a child's fantasies and the symbolic meanings of his or her play as a medium for understanding and communication with the child. The aim of play therapy is to decrease those behavioural and emotional difficulties that interfere significantly with a child's normal functioning. Inherent in this aim is improved communication and understanding between the child and his parents. Less obvious …show more content…
As children’s experiences and knowledge are often communicated through play, it becomes an important vehicle for them to know and accept themselves and others. One of the most common types of play therapy for children is child-based therapy, in which a therapist and a child work alone. This is often used if there is a concern about the parents or abuse in the family, but can also be done simply to make the child feel more comfortable. It can be used to treat behavioural problems, anxiety, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), autism, and the effects of abuse. There are two types of play therapy although both start with the therapist suggesting a general topic or