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Play Therapy

Running Head:   Play Therapy

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History of development of play therapy
Play therapy is a dynamic process normally between the child and a play therapist in whereby the child explores at his/her own pace, agenda those issues whether past, current or past, conscious or unconscious, that could affect the child’s life at the present time. Play therapy is a child centered in which play is the main medium while speech is the subordinate medium. The play therapist uses a child’s fantasies and the symbolic meanings of his/her play as a medium of understanding and communication with the child. Play therapy is aimed at decreasing behavioral and emotional difficulties that interfere with the child’s normal functioning (Ray, D., Bratton, 2001). This leads to enhanced communication and understanding with the parents. While treating, the therapist makes use of understanding of cognitive development and different stages of emotional development in addition to conflicts common to these stages while treating the child.
While play therapy is generally viewed as a comparatively new approach in mental health, it has actually been around since the genesis of psychotherapy itself. It was first documented by early pioneers among others; Hermine Hug-Hellmuth, Anna Freud and Melanie Klein. In play, drama, puppetry, art and poetry have been important media of human expression for centauries of years and were believed to have unusual healing powers in many ancient civilizations. Virginia Axline was the first therapist who applied Rogers’ client-centered concepts to play therapy, thus being considered the pioneer of child-centered play therapy. As such, play therapy is built upon a central philosophy that play is the “language of children” and “honors the world of children” Play therapists, then, believe that play therapy is the most effectual and natural mechanism for children to work through difficult emotional issues, invoking their...