Anxiety can be very hard on anyone, but it’s dreadful for kids. Most children cannot even explain what they’re feeling, and they have no idea at all as to why they’re so worried. That’s where St. George Best child play therapy services become helpful. They use play as a medium for effective communication of emotions safely and comfortably. This therapy teaches kids how to deal with their anxiety and start feeling better. This post will discuss the best child play therapy services, how they work, and how they help kids overcome anxiety.
What are St. George Best Child Play Therapy Services?
Play therapy is one of the therapies that lets kids express their feelings through play. Since adults would probably express their feelings in words, kids tend to express them through actions. The session for play therapy becomes a medium where toys and games act as tools kids use to demonstrate how they feel.
Play therapists learn about the ways children use play to communicate. In this way, they help the child resolve their anxiety. By playing out their fears, children can get through them healthily. A setting that makes them feel understood and supported is provided by play therapy.
How Play Therapy Can Help with Anxiety
Children are awful nervous cases. They may be apprehensive, fearful, or stressed but do not have the vocabulary to describe these feelings. Children have their way with these feelings and can show them without using words through play therapy.
Observation through play can reveal the patterns indicating exactly where the child is struggling. For example, if a child keeps on acting out a scenario in which they feel powerless, it could be an indicator of a certain source of anxiety. The therapist, thus, leads the child to search for solutions while teaching them ways of coping that subsequently reduce levels of anxiety within actual situations.
What happens during a session of play therapy?
Generally, a child in play therapy can choose toys to select as preferred, such as dolls and other building blocks or even colored pencils and paper. The therapist watches how the child plays, uses these objects, and later gently steers the session.
For instance, a child with social anxiety might behave as if he is shy or scared. The therapist from St. George Best child play therapy services can use such behaviors to help build confidence in the child. Gradually, the child learns to cope better with his feelings and significantly weakens the power of anxiety over his behavior.
The session will typically take 30 to 50 minutes. Depending on the intensity of the child’s anxiety, the sessions will be weekly or biweekly, depending on the child’s progress.
Benefits of Using Play Therapy for Anxiety in Children
Indeed, one of the most apparent benefits of play therapy for children is the expression of feelings or emotions that these children may not be able to verbalize. Play therapy is also a natural method of communication for the child. It relieves the pressure of explaining their feelings directly, an idea that can be quite difficult for worried kids.
It helps them understand that their feelings and emotions have a reason, whereas most anxious children believe they are wrong or too big. Play therapy teaches them that it is acceptable to be scared sometimes and educates them on coping healthily with those feelings.
Lastly, play therapy will instill a sense of trust in the child from the therapist. It is very important since it will help allow the child to open up and gain further healing for a long time.
Signs Your Child Might Need Play Therapy
Any child experiences some anxiety at one point, but the particular signs tell you that your child needs extra help. If you notice that your child is constantly worried, avoids going out, and sometimes has trouble sleeping, those are the anxiety signs.
Other signs include:
- Frequent headaches or stomach pain without apparent cause
- Outbreaks of anger or frustration with no apparent reason
- Avoiding previously enjoyed activities
- Poor attention in school
You might realize that your child needs play therapy because of these behaviors. This is the early intervention stage when they need help in managing and reducing anxiety at an early stage before it gets out of hand.
Finding a Perfect Play Therapist
Not all therapists specialize in play therapy; you will be better served by finding one with the appropriate experience. Look for a licensed play therapist with training in child psychology and anxiety disorders. Begin by asking your child’s pediatrician for recommendations or looking for therapists certified by the Association for Play Therapy.
Ensuring that the therapist’s style meets your child’s needs is also important. Some children would thrive if the therapist were gentle and unconditionally laid-back with them, but others need more structure. There should be no question about questioning a consultant to ensure the therapist suits your child.
How Long Does Play Therapy Take?
The number of sessions in St. George Best child play therapy services varies with the child and the complexity of his anxious state. Some just take a few sessions to get better, while others might even need months of therapy. It just depends on how well you can cut them some slack.
Some therapists work with parents to give them ideas of things to do to support their child at home. This strengthens what the child learned in therapy and speeds up the child’s progress. Remember that children are all different, and being okay, even for a parent’s child, takes time so that this anxiety is gotten over and done once and for all.
Supporting Your Child Outside of Therapy
While play therapy is an intense process, the child must be supported between sessions. Encourage the child to explain their feelings in whatever way they feel comfortable. The parents can also alleviate tensions at home.
Mindfulness practices such as deep breathing or basic yoga can also reduce tension. Helping your child internalize and modulate feelings in your own home will give your child a greater ability to manage stress in the future. You can help your child build the confidence they need to overcome anxiety by teaming up with your child’s therapist and practicing these skills at home.
Conclusion
Anxiety in children is a very serious problem, but play therapy provides an effective and child-friendly avenue toward coping. Through play, kids can express their feelings, learn how to cope and begin feeling better. If you notice signs of anxiety in your child, St. George Best child play therapy services could be the answer to their problems, supporting them in a lifelong journey of coping with feelings.
The good news is that with the proper therapist and your involvement in and out of therapy with your child, you can prepare him to overcome his anxieties and grow into a happier and more confident person.