Information about Play Therapy from ATIC
Play Therapy is especially useful for young children who can explore their emotional experiences through the medium of play therapy. Providing a window on their world and a way for them to express their feelings.
Play Therapy is a well-established standalone therapy based upon a number of psychological theories. Research, both qualitative and quantitative shows that it is highly effective in the treatment of many childhood challenges. Recent research in the UK suggests that as high as 71% of children referred show a positive change.
Play, the ability to explore and experiment, encourages the reprocessing of experience through unconscious symbolic representation. Research shows that people who have the opportunity to play feel less constricted, are more creative and able to process and make sense of experiences faster.
Sandplay Therapy
Clients, adults and children alike are encouraged to use miniature toys, figurines, and objects in the sand in ways they choose, also having a choice to add water to the sand. The design of the sand tray is guided by the individual’s imagination and their subconscious. The result is a microcosm reflective of their inner world. The world within the sand tray is expressed through symbolism and metaphor. The client can then begin to recognize the relationship between the creation in the sand and their own inner world.