Play Therapy is a type of therapy where the counselor and client utilize play as the medium for communicating and working through concerns. The team at Garrett Counseling is very passionate about the benefits that play therapy can provide to clients of all ages, from children to adults. We offer Play Therapy at our locations throughout Alabama, including Albertville / Boaz, Huntsville, Jacksonville, and Jasper.
AutPlay Therapy
AutPlay Therapy is a special type of Play Therapy that is designed to provide specialized care for neurodivergent children and their families. Garrett Counseling is a certified AutPlay Therapy provider, and we are trained to work with verbal neurodivergent children and teens and their families. This can also be an effective therapy method for those with ADHD.
Sandtray Therapy
Sandtray Therapy is a technique of Play Therapy where the client uses sand and mini figures/objects to create scenes that reflect their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Every counselor on the Garrett Counseling team is Level II trained in Sandtray for working with children, teens, and adults.
Who Is Play Therapy For?
Often when people think of Play Therapy, they associate it primarily as something that is helpful for children. While Play Therapy is absolutely beneficial for children, it is also helpful for both teens and adults. Garrett Counseling’s Counselor Lee says this “Play therapy can help teens relearn the language of play and facilitate expression when it otherwise is difficult or painful to do.” Read more from our team about play therapy and teens by clicking here. Owner of Garrett Counseling, Dr. Ashley Garrett, PhD, LPC-S, RPT-S, ACS, NCC says this about Play Therapy and adults, “Games [in play therapy] require things that many adults can benefit from such as positive social interaction, rule following, and navigating the experience of winning and losing.” “Describing your personal and interpersonal history can be tricky and very fact-based. I like to utilize Play Therapy (especially my Brave Play Kit) with adult clients to help them more freely explore moments, memories, and themes that influence their sense of self,” says Counselor Lynsey. Read more about how our team utilizes Play Therapy with adult clients in this blog.
Benefits of Play Therapy
Play Therapy is an effective therapy for children, teens, and adults. A few of the benefits it offers include:
- Communication: Sometimes verbal communication can be difficult, especially for children and in cases of trauma, Play Therapy helps remove that barrier by using other methods of communication.
- Connection: Positive Psychology shares that Play Therapy can help clients connect what they have experienced with a deeper understanding of that experience.
- Build New Skills: Play Therapy is a great way to learn and develop important life skills, such as problem solving, empathy and concern for others, and coping skills.
Learn More About Garrett Counseling’s Play Therapy Opportunities
If you are someone considering counseling, we would love to connect with you and learn how we may be able to support you. Contact our office at (256) 239-5662 or online to learn more about the play therapy options we provide at our Alabama counseling offices in Albertville / Boaz, Huntsville, Jacksonville, Jasper, & Online locations.
If you are a therapist looking to learn more about Play Therapy and how you could utilize it in your practice, visit our Brave Play CEUs page to learn more about upcoming training opportunities.