Play Therapy

Child Centered Play Therapy: CCPT

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CCPT is a non-directive form of play therapy that focuses on building a safe, nurturing relationship with the child and allowing them to take the lead in their treatment. This can sound counterintuitive, but a wide body a research has shown that allowing children to have control in the play therapy room, supports their social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral growth for a wide range of concerns. The therapist plays an active role in reflecting thoughts, emotions, and meaning in the child's actions, setting therapeutic limits, and unconditionally accepting the child. There is a huge emphasis on empowering the child, providing an alternative, often corrective, experience in the therapist relationship and therapy space, and using play as a medium for communication.

Adlerian Play Therapy

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Adlerian play therapy combines directive and non-directive therapeutic experiences in a play therapy office. The emphasis in this model is on using play to communicate, externalize internal experiences, and process the child's world. The therapist focuses on building connection, noticing strengths, and encouraging growth, self-expression, capability, and empowerment. This can be done through therapist-led activities/prompts, and child-led communication. The sandtray (explored in more detail below) is an often-used mode of expression and communication in this type of play therapy.

Sandtray

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The sand tray in play therapy is a literal container of loose sand that the child/family can use to communicate, explore, and process their world. "Miniatures," which are a range of small toys/items, are abundantly available and offer a near-endless option of scenes to be explored and processed. The tray itself often provides a safe, contained space, to explore difficult themes, events, and narratives in a client's life. The sand tray becomes a powerful metaphor of past events and future hopes, dreams, and goals. All of this can be contained and, if needed, left in the tray for safekeeping.

Frequently Asked Questions

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1. Will my child make progress in non-directive therapy or sessions?

   1. Absolutely. Not only does research support this, but I also invite you to consider the following: Your child is/has been (most likely) in very directive settings, i.e., home, school/daycare, sports/groups, doctor's offices, etc. And yet, you are still considering therapy. How would therapy offer you/your child anything different if all that was offered was another setting where the child was given endless rules, instruction, or direction? While there are educative tools that may require direction to meet a client's needs at times, I do not believe in a therapy setting that is entirely therapist led for children and adolscents-they are already receiving that in other areas of their life. I strive to offer them something different-a safe, empowered space for them to heal and grow.