Play therapy is a method of counseling children and sometimes adolescents by using the therapeutic process of play. The Association for Play Therapy defines play therapy as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.” In other words, trained play therapists facilitate the therapeutic process by allowing clients, typically between the ages of 3 and 11 years, to play with toys and art materials in order to resolve psychological difficulties and develop resilience.

Within abnormal and clinical psychology, play therapy can be used to treat children who may have a variety of presenting problems including but not ...

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