Play therapy is a therapeutic approach based on developmental principles. It is a process where the child chooses objects, symbols, or types of play to express their concerns and work through particular problems. In play therapy, toys are like the child’s words, and play is the child’s language. A child’s play is not simply a reproduction of what they have experienced but a creative reworking of the impressions they have acquired.
Our Calgary clinic offers play therapy for kids within a non-threatening and supportive environment that is ideal to enable children to grow emotionally. If your child suffers from anxiety, behavioral problems, loss, or trauma, play therapy is a resource that helps him or her work through overwhelming feelings naturally and constructively. Our experienced therapists have the ability to observe the patterns that a child’s play indicates and guide him or her subtly to healing and self-knowledge.
The main goals, regardless of the issue, are to help children regain their former level of functioning, enhance self-esteem and build the child’s coping resources. 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.
Children often struggle to find the words to express what they’re feeling. However, more often than not, how they interact with toys and play often sheds light on their emotional status. Keeping that in mind, during children’s play therapy, we use toys, storytelling, and creative tools to help kids make sense of their experiences in a way that feels natural and safe to them. In time, they begin to feel more understood, more in control, and more confident and comfortable in their ability to handle life’s challenges.
Play provides a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows expression of thoughts and feelings appropriate to their development. This therapeutic method is ideally suited to children 3-12 years of age; parents are considered extremely important partners in the therapy process and are invited to take on a number of roles.
Children often experience emotional issues that they may not fully understand or know how to express. Play therapy Calgary provides a safe space for individuals to express their feelings while also developing their emotional resilience, communication skills, and self-esteem. Children can start to feel safer and more capable in their daily lives with the help of both their therapist and their caregivers.
Every play therapy session is carefully planned to meet your child’s emotional and developmental requirements. Sessions typically last 45 to 60 minutes and take place in a warm, welcoming room equipped with toys, art supplies, and sensory items carefully selected to help children express their feelings safely.
During the session, your child may engage in pretend play, draw, tell stories, or participate in other creative activities. These strategies allow the therapist to gently observe how the child is feeling and what they are thinking, even when they can’t express it in words. The first step is to establish trust and make the child feel at ease. As time goes on, you can see that your child deals with their feelings, talks to you, or handles problems in different ways. This approach is a kind and age-appropriate way to rehabilitate, particularly if you are seeking play therapy in Calgary.
Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in making therapy effective. That’s why we work together, and you help your child make progress. We make it easy for parents to talk to us from the start. This enables you to understand how play therapy works and how you can help at home.
We may schedule regular meetings with you as a parent, provide you with tips on managing your child’s behavior outside of treatment, or even involve you in certain aspects of therapy, depending on your child’s needs. The benefits of parent support in play therapy are typically even greater when parents are involved and aware of what’s happening. We all work together to establish a circle of support that makes your child feel safe, connected, and strong.
Children’s play therapy can be a powerful tool for helping young children work through various emotional, social, and behavioral concerns. Our therapists provide gentle and practical support for children between the ages of 3 and 12 who may be struggling with:
A skilled kids therapist understands that children often show distress through their behavior rather than through words. That’s why play therapy can be such a meaningful way to help them make sense of difficult experiences, feel more in control, and begin to heal in a way that feels natural to them.
If any of the challenges above sound familiar, know that you are not alone. Support is available, and early help can make a lasting difference. Play therapy offers children a safe and developmentally appropriate means to explore their emotions, build resilience, and enhance confidence in their daily lives.
Your child’s mental and emotional health is very important, and they need professional, caring help. The head child psychologist in Calgary has both clinical training and a lot of experience working with kids. We use established approaches and personalize our approach to your child’s specific needs based on our backgrounds in developmental psychology, expressive arts, and trauma-informed care.
We know that starting treatment can be a significant deal, and we’re here to help you through it with care, clarity, and professionalism. From your first meeting to each session after that, you can count on a therapeutic partnership based on trust and respect that is helpful, honest, and insightful.
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