Young children and teenagers often have a very difficult time verbalizing the things they are struggling with inside. There are a lot of pressures that kids today have to deal with so finding an effective outlet for them to express their needs and concerns is especially important. Many therapists have found sand tray therapy to be an innovative and useful way for their clients to find their voice.
This therapeutic approach's name pretty much describes what it is. It involves using a sandbox, a variety of miniature figurines, and sometimes water. Utilizing these tools, the client will be free to set up various scenes from their mind to create a scenario that expresses their feelings, concerns, thoughts, or struggles, without actually having to verbalize them.
The fact that children have a natural inclination towards play is the base idea for this therapeutic approach. When left to explore their own thoughts in a safe and interactive environment without adult interference or guidance, a child might inadvertently reveal a great deal about what concerns them. The absence of threat or pressure helps to relax the client so they are comfortable enough to be open.
The belief is that given this freedom of expression, children are able to work through their problems and begin their own healing process. Once the child feels comfortable enough, the therapist will initiate a discussion about what is happening in their symbolic world. The things that they are unable to express verbally, they can demonstrate through these figurines.
This approach works well with very young children who do not yet have the verbal capability or the mental maturity to express what they are experiencing or clearly describe their feelings. However, play is something that they understand very well and by observing them in action, the therapist can get an idea of what they need to say. Kids often utilize play time as a way to act out things that they are seeing in their real life.
It is frequently used when treating certain autistic children of all ages as well. These individuals process sensory input in a different way and many of them are not able to verbalize very well, if at all. Their demonstrations through play can be an effective means of communication with their therapist, who can utilize other methods to get more in-depth information at a different time.
In most cases, the therapist does not suggest any scenarios, because the point of this practice is to permit the child to process their thoughts on their own in order to seek a solution. The client may require only a single session, or they may need multiple weeks, months, or years, based upon their own unique situation. Patience and observation are the key are essential to success.
While playing with toys in a sandbox is far from the typical approach for helping a child find a coping mechanism, it has become a very effective one - particularly for individuals who have verbal challenges. This simple, passive concept allows them to process safely and comfortably. Therapist might choose to make certain adjustments based on individual situations.
This therapeutic approach's name pretty much describes what it is. It involves using a sandbox, a variety of miniature figurines, and sometimes water. Utilizing these tools, the client will be free to set up various scenes from their mind to create a scenario that expresses their feelings, concerns, thoughts, or struggles, without actually having to verbalize them.
The fact that children have a natural inclination towards play is the base idea for this therapeutic approach. When left to explore their own thoughts in a safe and interactive environment without adult interference or guidance, a child might inadvertently reveal a great deal about what concerns them. The absence of threat or pressure helps to relax the client so they are comfortable enough to be open.
The belief is that given this freedom of expression, children are able to work through their problems and begin their own healing process. Once the child feels comfortable enough, the therapist will initiate a discussion about what is happening in their symbolic world. The things that they are unable to express verbally, they can demonstrate through these figurines.
This approach works well with very young children who do not yet have the verbal capability or the mental maturity to express what they are experiencing or clearly describe their feelings. However, play is something that they understand very well and by observing them in action, the therapist can get an idea of what they need to say. Kids often utilize play time as a way to act out things that they are seeing in their real life.
It is frequently used when treating certain autistic children of all ages as well. These individuals process sensory input in a different way and many of them are not able to verbalize very well, if at all. Their demonstrations through play can be an effective means of communication with their therapist, who can utilize other methods to get more in-depth information at a different time.
In most cases, the therapist does not suggest any scenarios, because the point of this practice is to permit the child to process their thoughts on their own in order to seek a solution. The client may require only a single session, or they may need multiple weeks, months, or years, based upon their own unique situation. Patience and observation are the key are essential to success.
While playing with toys in a sandbox is far from the typical approach for helping a child find a coping mechanism, it has become a very effective one - particularly for individuals who have verbal challenges. This simple, passive concept allows them to process safely and comfortably. Therapist might choose to make certain adjustments based on individual situations.
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You can find a summary of the benefits you get when you use sand tray therapy services at http://www.juliecast.net/Aboutme.html right now.
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