Play therapy uses play as a means of communication and expression for children. This therapy helps children explore and express their emotions, thoughts, and experiences through play activities. The therapist creates a safe and supportive environment with a variety of toys, games, and materials, allowing the child to engage in play that reflects their inner world. Play therapy can be used to address a range of emotional and behavioral issues in children, anxiety, trauma, aggression, social difficulties, and family conflicts. 

Here at Guiding Arrows Counseling, we use directive and non-directive approaches coupled with somatic integration and neurobiology. Somatic play therapy integrates both play therapy and somatic (body-centered) therapy. The approach acknowledges that emotions are not simply psychological, but physiological as well. When you get angry, I bet your body gets tense and maybe heated first. Yup! That's the physiological part! I aim to integrate the mind and body in the healing process, promoting emotional regulation, self-awareness, and overall well-being.

Neurobiology is increasingly being integrated into therapeutic approaches, including play therapy, to enhance our understanding of how the brain and nervous system contribute to emotional and behavioral challenges in children. Kids tend to find this knowledge so fascinating, too! Within a supportive play therapy environment children can learn to explore and regulate their nervous system responses, enhance their social engagement, self-regulation, and overall emotional wellness.