For kids from the ages of three to eleven, we may recommend therapy that utilizes play. This form of counseling gives your child the safety of play to express his or her emotions. Before kids have the necessary vocabulary to discuss big ideas, play therapy can offer a great solution to allow us into the child’s thought process and potential therapy needs. If you want to learn more about therapy with kids at Arkansas Counseling & Wellness, read the information on this page. You can also call to schedule an appointment with us in our North Little Rock office.
Therapy for Kids
What does it mean to use play in therapy?
Therapy with kids utilizes play as a method of meeting and responding to the mental health needs of children. It is an effective and suitable intervention in dealing with children’s brain development. It is generally employed with children aged three to eleven and provides a way for them to express their experiences and feelings through a natural, self-guided, self-healing process.
Learn more from the Association for Play Therapy
Would my child benefit from play in therapy?
When children are too young to clearly express their advanced thoughts, emotions, and feelings, they may benefit from play in therapy. Some of the reasons parents may want to schedule a therapy appointment for their children include helping kids dealing with:
- Temper tantrums and aggressive behaviors
- Difficulties with sleeping or nightmares
- Experiencing and expressing anxieties, worries, or fears
- Sexual or physical abuse
- Neglect
- The loss of a family member or friend
What are the benefits of using play during therapy with kids?
Kids who take part in play during therapy can receive numerous benefits, including:
- Learning responsibility for behavior
- Developing successful conflict strategies
- Solving problems creatively and effectively
- Cultivating empathy, respect, and acceptance of self and others
- Experiencing and expressing emotions in safe and healthy ways
- Feeling confidence in their abilities
- Improving socializations skills with friends and family members
What happens when play is used in therapy?
Depending on the age and attention span of your child, a therapy session may last 30 minutes to a full hour. During this session, the therapist will work with the young client strategically to direct play toward understanding their emotions, handling conflicts, and learning to process difficult information. It may look like your child is just having fun, but these sessions can be exactly what he or she needs to begin communicating more clearly and developing better problem-solving skills. Sessions are unique to the specific client, so no two visits will look exactly the same.
How much does therapy cost?
We are happy to process insurance claims to minimize the out of pocket costs of treatment. If you have questions about pricing or need help with financing, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our business team at any time.