Experiential play therapy is a therapy method that helps children between the ages of 2-9 to be more harmonious and happy in their family, school and social lives, and to repair behavioral disorders with games. Starting from the age of 2, children begin to play symbolic and fantasy games in which they can act out their problems. Therefore, intervening in children's games and directing them actually means intervening in their lives and the reality they experience. Play is a means of communication between all children and their parents. That's why experiential play therapy is a method that we find very useful for children who experience serious negative events such as trauma, disappointment, neglect and abuse. It is a great CHANCE for every parent and child who enters this path.
Most children are born with stress, anxiety and many vital problems from the womb, and they make great efforts to grow/develop with those problems. Sometimes even parents cannot realize the stressors they impose on their children. The aim of all parents is to raise successful and self-confident children, but some mistakes can be made in the methods of passing this good will to the child. As a result, we may encounter behavioral problems or reactions in children such as anger, stubbornness, opposition, thumb sucking, nail biting, etc.
EXPERIENTIAL PLAY THERAPY STAGES
Exploration phase: the child gets acquainted with the room, the therapist, and his or her own expectations in this new environment.
Testing trust: the child gets acquainted with the therapist before proceeding to give information that is important to him or her. Evaluates the level of self-commitment. The purpose of this stage is to establish a trusting relationship with the therapist
Commitment stage: the child begins fantasy play that contains personally meaningful emotional themes. Because the child trusts the therapist and invites the therapist to a fantasy game. At this stage, the child's play progresses very intensively.
Therapeutic growth phase: with the confrontation with the emotional pain he experiences, the child begins to regain his sense of personal empowerment. Thus, it begins to grow towards reaching developmental stages that it once skipped due to a painful event or relationship
Ended Termination phase: games are now simpler, recovery-oriented games, but the child must be prepared for termination. It is important to support the child in accepting the end of the relationship and to preserve the therapeutic relationship.
WHAT IS THE DUTY OF THE THERAPIST?
In experiential play therapy, the therapist reflects verbally. and by mirroring, it both reinforces the child's experience and creates the feeling of 'I am with you, I am with you and you are safe' in the child. In the process of fantasy, that is, trauma games, the child experiences the game with the child, responds to the given role, and thus deepens the negative experiences experienced in the past while playing the game. However, the therapist never intervenes or directs the game. During this process, she is with the child with all her self and harmony.
IN WHICH CASES DO WE NEED EXPERIENTIAL PLAY THERAPY?
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Attachment problems
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Anxiety and stress disorders after trauma
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Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder
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Emotional, physical or sexual abuse
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Difficulty in adapting to changes within the family (a new sibling, home, school, parent)
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Aggressiveness and irritability
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Social withdrawal and depression
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