PLAY THERAPY EFFECTIVENESS AND ISSUES

Year 2018, Volume: 1 Issue: 1, 12 - 25, 31.05.2018

Bahaddin Demirdiş

Abstract

Many children need support with emotional literacy,
while others experience behavioural or mental health problems. A number of
approaches exist, but not all are suitable for children and adolescents, as their
needs differ from those of adults. Play therapy is an effective psychotherapeutic
approach for
helping children and adolescents. Play is a vital aspect of childhood, with its
importance for healthy development being first noted in the writings of Rousseau
in the 18^th century. Play therapy has now become a leading
psychotherapeutic intervention with children and adolescents despite
the fact that
play was not introduced into a counselling setting until the early 20^th
century. Play therapy is the most effective means of
benefiting children in a counselling relationship, and is undertaken in a nurturing
environment in which children play out how they think about themselves, what
they need from their life, and what they have experienced, along with their
reactions and feelings. Play therapy is an effective method of helping troubled
children tackle their distress, enabling them to experience the freedom to
explore their emotions and views of themselves, and others, through play. This article
will: (1) define play therapy, including its importance in a therapeutic
setting; (2) demonstrate the effectiveness of play therapy; (3) explore a
number of current issues concerning the use of play therapy.

Keywords

therapy, effectiveness, children

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