Frequently Asked Questions
Trauma denotes the psychological aftermath of encountering highly stressful, alarming, or distressing circumstances that surpass an individual's coping mechanisms or ability to control. Such events may manifest as singular incidents or persist as ongoing occurrences spanning a protracted duration.
While virtually everyone may encounter events in their lives deemed traumatic, the impact varies widely among individuals. Furthermore, trauma is not confined to specific age groups and can exert its influence at any stage of life, sometimes long after the initial event transpires.
Trauma is the mind’s and body’s response to distressing events in our lives. A physical trauma could be a bruise: the body’s reaction to a physical blow. With time, sometimes without even noticing the effects, the bruise heals and there is no need to aid that process. Some trauma’s require more attention and intervention. Just like a broken leg requires intervention by a medical professional, or a scraped knee requires a Band-Aid and a kiss or cuddle from a compassionate carer. However, without that basic intervention, a scraped knee can potentially become infected and eventually require professional intervention. Sometimes, a carer can’t be quite sure how serious the situation is, so seeks professional advice.
As parents and carers looking after children, emotional and psychological injuries can be much more difficult to recognise and address than physical traumas. At times we don’t notice an issue until the effects begin to show themselves and it is hard to pinpoint a cause. In many instances, seeking professional advice is a natural first step in healing.
Play is the language of children and how they express their inner world. Play assists children and their families in emotional expression, enhancing communication, and problem solving through a child’s natural language of play.
During play therapy, the therapist will utilize a variety of carefully selected toys to ensure the child has access to the tools they need to express their thoughts and feelings. Most children under the age of 10 lack the abstract verbal reasoning skills necessary to share their thoughts, feelings, and beliefs through direct communication, making play the most developmentally appropriate way to approach therapy.
The goal of play therapy is to help children develop new ways to process previous trauma or solve problems. To do this, Play Therapy focuses on the relationships and experiences that can create positive changes within the brain. As children utilize the playroom to explore their difficult thoughts and feelings, the therapist utilizes the therapeutic relationship to help regulate the child’s emotions. This makes structural changes in the brain, which lead to enhanced understanding of the difficult events and more positively adaptive behaviors.
Think of it like this – the brain is plastic, which means that it is changing constantly. In our brain, we have synapses, which are a part of the circuit that connects our sensory organs. From a physical standpoint, these synapses are what connects the thought of wanting to move our arm to the physical action of actually moving our arm. These synapses also play a vital role in the formation of memories. When we have experiences that do not match what our body experienced to happen – our brain synapses create new learning experiences. When these disconfirming experiences happen in the play room, when the therapist has helped the child regulate their emotional state, the brain is open to new learning.
For example, if a child has previously experienced somatic symptoms of anxiety (stomachaches, headaches, etc.) as they discuss a traumatic event, play therapy can allow the child to work through the traumatic event without feeling the same physical symptoms because the child is experiencing different sensations during play. Overtime, with repeated play therapy sessions, the child’s brain will rewire the synapses and create a new understanding of anxiety.
Play Therapy is an effective treatment for a variety of presenting issues including behavioral problems at home or school, anger management, divorce, family separation, foster and adoptive families, anxiety, depression, social difficulties related to ADHD, and crisis and trauma experiences. Play Therapy can also assist with social and academic developmental delays, conduct disorders, and issues associated with grief and loss. Additionally, Play Therapy can be beneficial in strengthening family relationships.
The first session is known as an intake session. Prior to this session, you will be asked to complete some paperwork which gives the therapist permission to meet with you and your child. During this session, the therapist will meet with the client and the parent together to discuss general information and history about the child and family. You will have an opportunity to discuss your goals for therapy and share some strengths of your child. This session will typically not be a play session, as the therapist will have several questions to ask you so that they will know how to best support your child in future sessions.
After the initial intake session, the therapist will discuss a treatment plan for your child. You will discuss the goals that you have for your child as well as how often your child will meet with the therapist. Typically, play therapy sessions occur every week and last 45-60 minutes.
During their sessions, your child will be able to play and have fun. It is important to understand that children will see these sessions as a time to play, and while not all sessions are fun and lighthearted, the general process is designed to support your child in processing their thoughts and feelings in a nonthreatening manner.
During some sessions, children will be able to explore the playroom freely. This is known as non-direct play therapy. During other sessions, the therapist may engage in directive play therapy, in which they select or suggest some specific games or activities for the session. During their play, the therapist is focused on helping the children heal by accepting their emotions, creating feelings of trust and self-confidence, and learning positive coping.
Outside of the child’s sessions, the therapist will periodically meet individually with parents to provide information about the child’s session, explore progress towards goals, and provide additional support.
Play therapy is a slower process than most parents would like it to be. You can help support your child during this time by respecting the process and keeping realistic expectations.
It is common that behaviors will get worse before they get better. You can support your child by not pressuring them to make progress in therapy. Avoid asking questions after their sessions, as feeling the need to report back to you can cause children to lose focus in the playroom as they worry about having to be “good” for you.
Children may need some time to decompress after their sessions and may benefit from having some time to engage in a pleasant activity of their choice after their session. It is also important to recognize that your child’s work in therapy may be difficult for you, as it may trigger difficult thoughts and feelings about previous traumas or current problems. We often encourage caregivers to seek their own therapy with another provider while their child receives Play Therapy.
What is Embodied Processing?
In the realm of counselling and therapy, Embodied Processing underscores the notion that our emotional and psychological well-being are intimately linked with our physical experiences and interactions. It suggests that our bodies hold valuable information and insights about our inner feelings and struggles. For instance, the way we hold tension in our muscles or the sensations we experience in our stomach during moments of stress can provide clues about our emotional state.
In essence, Embodied Processing in counselling emphasises the holistic nature of human experience, recognising that emotional well-being is intricately intertwined with our physical selves. By incorporating this perspective into therapy, counselors can offer more comprehensive support to their clients, addressing both their mental and physical needs.