What is Play Therapy

Play therapy differs from regular play in that the therapist helps children to address and resolve their own problems.
Through play therapy, children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-
solving skills, and learn a variety of ways of relating to others.
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Without Play
Play therapy differs from regular play in that the therapist helps children to address and resolve their own problems.
Through play therapy, children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-
solving skills, and learn a variety of ways of relating to others.
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Play Help Grow the Brain
Increases functioning in pre-frontal cortex: regulates emotions,
Helps children plan ahead, problem solving
Play activates the ENTIRE neocortex (logical/new brain)
Improves memory
Increases attention span & language development
Inoculates them to stress = Small amounts of risk
Arena to practice certain behaviours with minimal risk
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4 C's of Healthy Development

Courage

Connect

Capable

Count

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Children Work in Their Window of Tolerance

Healing Power of Play

1. Increases oxytocin: hormone enhances feelings of wellness and trust

2. Mirror neurons are released during play, helping us to read a child more effectively

3. Optimal chemical environment for new neural pathways

4. A certain level of arousal is ideal to consolidate and integrate neural pathways

5. Integrate emotion and cognition - learning takes place

6. Play involves co-constructing wordless narratives of self-awareness and transformation

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Virgina Axline
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Child-Centered Play Therapy

The therapeutic relationship is dynamic and interpersonal. A strong relationship is used for the child to be able to
express themself and explore; thus, realizing the value within and becoming a positive, self-determining, and self-
actualizing individual.

Limit setting: Limits help a child to feel safe, valued, and accepted

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The Play Room
Dr. Rise VanFleet

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Types of Toys
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A Few Key Tools for Non-Directive Play Therapy

Limit
Tracking Reflecting
Setting

Tracking
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Reflecting
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Limit Setting

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 Play & Projection: Play is a Language
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Training
ICP is an approved provider (21-634) with the Association for Play Therapy (www.a4pt.org)
www.cacpt.org is another great organization to register with
ICP provider individual play therapy supervision (for registration with APT not* CACPT)

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Copyright © 2022 Institute of Child Psychology

www.instituteofchildpsychology.com