Most adults are able to express their feelings, frustrations, anxieties and personal problems in some type of verbal expression. Play is to the child what verbalisation is to the adult. Play Therapy therefore is a specific counselling approach to help children express their experiences and feelings through a natural, self- guided process. Games, toys and expressive mediums like clay and paint are utilised to help children understand and work through their muddled feelings. Of prime importance to this form of therapy is the development of a safe relationship between the child and the therapist. This is a crucial tool in the therapeutic process as a child will be more likely to express their intimate feelings if they feel respected and accepted. The aim of Play Therapy therefore is to guide children to become more aware of what they are feeling and as such they are given opportunities to express these feelings in a healthy manner.In addition to providing children with a means to express themselves, Play Therapy benefits a child in the following ways:
- It allows children to express their emotions in a constructive manner and regulate their feelings better.
- It allows children to discover their strengths and weaknesses thereby facilitating self- knowledge.
- It allows children to become more assertive, self- confident and develop respect for themselves and others.
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