Play & Arts Therapies

 

In most counselling and therapeutic settings, talk therapies (as known as psychotherapies) are the dominant approach that emphasizes the importance of dialogue as the main means of expressing and resolving issues.  However, for people such as children and youngsters who may struggle to express their emotions and cognitions verbally, play and arts therapies are two alternative approaches to talk therapies.

 

Play is a natural means of exploration, learning, communication and social interaction for children, and therefore play can be considered a highly effective medium to facilitate children’s expression that may be difficult to verbalise.  From the therapeutic perspective, play therapy provides a safe and comfortable environment for children to be themselves and to express their feelings freely.  It is characterized as an effective way for children to communicate their worries at their own level and their own pace.  The aim of play therapy is to improve children’s self-confidence and -esteem enabling them to be more resilient in everyday life.

 

Art therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that utilises art and artistic media to enable people to express their thoughts and feelings.  As an alternative to talk therapies, using physical art media such as paper and pencils often help people to feel more connected to the world they live in.  In many cases, using art and artistic media as a means of communication can be useful for those who find it difficult to verbalise their emotions and cognitions.  This approach not only helps those with mental health issues, it can also be beneficial to young children, elderly and marginalised individuals.