Play-Based Therapy

 
 

When our children are hurt or emotionally wounded, they often don’t have the words to communicate what they are experiencing. Rather, they communicate through their actions and through play. At Safe Haven Trauma Services, we use play and expressive therapies to help children to feel safe. Once children feel safe they are often able to process their experiences through play and expressive arts. By doing so, they develop resiliency to face life’s ups and downs.  

Children as young as 1-2 years old can begin displaying behaviors that feel concerning as parents. Some behaviors you may see in your child that feel concerning include:

  • separation anxiety

  • sleep issues

  • extreme emotions

  • strong reactivity to limit setting

  • tantrums

  • rejecting or pushing away behavior

  • behavioral issues

  • anger or rage

  • throwing things, hitting, biting

  • dysregulation

  • withdrawing

  • low frustration tolerance

  • shyness

  • anxiety

  • trauma symptoms (like traumatic play, extreme fears, avoidance, flashbacks, etc)

  • not wanting to be touched or hugged

At Safe Haven Trauma Services, we approach the above from an attachment and play-based perspective. We believe that children show us what they’re feeling through their behaviors because they often don’t have the words to describe what they’re feeling or experiencing. We believe that you as the parent are crucial in your child’s development and will work with you to address the difficulties that your child is experiencing.

We address emotional and behavioral problems through:

  • play therapy

  • expressive arts

  • Comprehensive Resource Model

  • play and imagination-based hypnosis

  • family therapy

  • Safe and Sound Protocol

  • somatic approaches

If you would like more information on how we can help support your child, please reach out through a contact form or by calling our office.