How do I know if my child needs play therapy?
It can be hard to know when a child is simply going through a challenging season and when they may benefit from additional support. Play therapy can give children a safe, developmentally appropriate way to express emotions, build coping skills, and work through difficult experiences.
You don't have to wait for a crisis to reach out. If you're noticing changes in your child's emotions, behavior, relationships, or everyday life, child therapy or play therapy may be worth exploring.
Signs Your Child May Benefit From Play Therapy
Play therapy may be helpful when a child is:
Having a hard time using coping skills
Having frequent or intense emotional reactions
Struggling to regulate or calm their emotions
Experiencing anxiety, worry, or persistent sadness
Having trouble with sleep or changes in their sleep
Struggling with eating or food
Experiencing emotional distress related to a medical condition or learning disability
Going through adoption or another significant life transition
Using substances to cope
Making unsafe choices
Participating in behaviors that hurt their body
Having thoughts of suicide or not wanting to be here
You Don't Have to Know Exactly What They Need
Sometimes parents aren't sure whether their child's challenges are “big enough” for therapy. They don't have to be.
Play therapy can also be helpful when parents simply want new tools and techniques to better support their child's emotions, behavior, and emotional regulation.
A family history of mental illness may also be a reason to consider additional support, particularly when you are noticing changes in your child's mood or behavior.
Looking for Play Therapy in Brookings, SD?
The Growth Collective provides play therapy and child therapy in Brookings, SD, in a warm, welcoming environment where children can feel safe being themselves.
If you're wondering whether play therapy could be a good fit for your child, reach out! We are happy to connect.
