- Play therapy differs from regular play in that the therapist helps children address and resolve problems. Through the therapist guiding the play therapy, individuals learn to communicate with others more effectively, identify and express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and work through traumatic experiences. Through play therapy, the individual can express themselves, their thoughts and feelings in a less threatening, non-verbal way. The purpose is to support, maintain, or to improve upon the psychosocial, physical, cognitive, and spiritual health of people of all ages: Childhood through Adulthood.
- Creative art and play therapists are credentialed professionals with training in the application of play and creativity, and human development in the therapeutic environment. They use play and specific art-based approaches when working with children, adolescents, adults, groups, and families.
- to help children, adolescents, adults, & families develop
an understanding & acceptance of themselves, improved functioning,
interpersonal skills, emotion regulation skills, personal development,
& improved quality of life
- In art or play therapy as in CBT, DBT, or short-term therapy... there is a helping professional and an individual, family or group seeking assistance from a therapist to make changes. The relationship between the therapist, individual, and the creative process is essential, and includes purposeful dialogue and specific therapeutic interventions in response to the therapeutic process.
Current and emerging research in mind-body medicine and integrated healthcare strongly suggests that art therapy is an effective, health-enhancing intervention and form of treatment... and that it positively impacts quality of life.