What is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy Facts and Information

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What is Play?

         According to Charles Schaefer, play is an activity characterized by a suspension of reality, positive affect, and flexibility. Play can be defined as a recreational activity used for enjoyment. Playing has 8 great traits it: positive affect, non-literal, flexible, process orientated, voluntary, inner control, active involvement, and intrinsic motivation. When people(not just children are playing) Thera is enjoyment involved with in, we smile, are happy, demonstrate excitement, that's positive affect).  When we engage in play is non-literal, meaning there is freedom in using your imagination, no limits, not concrete. Playing allows for things to change each time you play, and you can adapt to what is available or create what is needed (play is flexible and creative). Playing is not a about the ending but more about enjoying the process. When people play it is a choice that they are making, its voluntary. With children they are more likely to choose to play over any other activity. During play the players get to be in change, and for children its a time when they don't have to manage the demands of authority figures. When children play they get to be powerful, more powerful than the objects or people around them. When people are playing they give their full attention and energy to activity, being fully engaged. Play is also driven by ones own internal desire, and satisfaction. Some of the inner desires that motivate play are: positive affect/enjoyment, interests, autonomy(independence), power, competence, and control. 

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The Powers of Play

          The powers of play are the change agents used in play in order to initiate, facilitate or strengthen effectiveness. The play powers are utilized as a facilitator to positively influence a client to change. In other words, play actually helps provide change and isn't just a intermediate for applying change or moderate the strength or direction of change. Change agent's can "improve a client's attachment formation, self-expression, emotion regulation, resiliency, self-esteem, and stress management. " (Schaefer 2014)   

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There are 20 Powers of Play that fall into four categories

• Facilitates Communication

  • Self-Expression

  • Access to the Unconscious

  • Direct Teaching

  • Indirect Teaching

• Fosters Emotional Wellness

  • Catharsis

  • Abreaction

  • Positive Emotions

  • Counterconditioning of fears

  • Stress Inoculation

  • Stress Management 

• Enhance Social Relationships

  • Therapeutic Relationship

  • Attachment

  • Social competence

  • Empathy

• Increases Personal Strengths

  • Creative Problem Solving

  • Resiliency

  • Moral Development

  • Accelerated Psychological Development

  • Self- Regulation

  • Self Esteem

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When you see a therapist engaging in play therapy remembering that we are not "just playing" there is always a purpose to our play.

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Theories in Play Therapy

        “Theory is an explanatory statement intended to account for, explain, and understand relations among variables, how they operate, and the process involved.” The “goal of theory is to understand why and how therapy achieves change.“Theory can help understand the processes that account for therapeutic change, and hence, ought to be fostered and maximized.” (Kazdin, 2001)

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There are 9 major theories utilized in play therapy(and acknowledge by the Association of Play Therapy (APT).

1. Adlerian

2. Child-Centered

3. Cognitive-Behavioral

4. Ecosystemic

5. Filial

6. Jungian

7. Narrative

8. Prescriptive

9. Theraplay 

While all play therapist will use the powers of play to create change each play therapist may utilize a different play theory.

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Note: When the word "power" is being use in this context the word means the tool(agent, descriptive word assigned) used to aid in creating change.

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