How to know when to get help?
Does your child have angry outbursts or acting out tendencies? Trouble
concentrating in the classroom or acting out at school? Complain of stomach
aches, or not feeling well very often? Play therapy can help a wide variety
of symptoms.
Play Therapy can also be extremely beneficial for any child as a way to
self express, learn emotional intelligence, find healthy coping strategies
(nervous system regulation) and attain more body awareness. Play therapy
allows children to learn more about their inner worlds and begins to foster
a healthier connection to themselves through awareness.
Symptoms & reasons to begin Play Therapy may include:
- Social withdrawal or isolation
- Sadness, tearfulness, or depression
- Excessive angry outbursts or acting out
- Decreased interest in activities he or she previously enjoyed
- Drastic mood swings
- Attention deficits (ADD/ADHD)
- Sexual, physical, or emotional abuse
- Speech, language, or other developmental delays
- Family separation such as divorce in the family or high-conflict
- The death of a close family member, friend, or beloved pet
- Eating disorders or drastic appetite changes
- Irregular sleep, including insomnia or excessive sleepiness
- Complaints of illness (such as headache, upset stomach, or not feeling
well) even though a doctor finds nothing wrong. - Struggle connecting with peers or family members ( social anxiety)
- Extremely hard on one’s self about performance ( school, athletic ect)