Child-Centered Play Therapy and Domestic Violence

Jennifer Geddes Hall

In this article, Jennifer Geddes Hall, a professor from Clemson University, discusses the effects of trauma on young children. Throughout the passage Hall goes over the many benefits that play therapy has on children who have been exposed to such trauma. She defines play therapy as “ a natural way for children to communicate and to increase self-awareness as well as communicate this awareness to others.” Statistics show that play therapy is an effective means for treating externalizing and internalizing problems in children. Therapists who promote child-centered play therapy value a holistic approach. They seek to build genuine, empathetic relationships with the child that attends to their cognitions, behaviors, and emotions. This creates a safe environment for the child to explore, build self esteem, and most importantly, play! Play therapy also encourages children to build crucial life skills such as decision-making and problem-solving.

Hall also stresses the positive impact that play therapy has on children who have experienced trauma during nonverbal and preverbal developmental stages. This type of trauma exists subconsciously and becomes increasingly evident during the later stages of child development. Play therapy offers a cathartic solution to counter the negative effects that have spurred from past trauma. As this form of trauma is unconsciously created, play therapy acts as a medium to access various emotions. Play allows children to access their feelings in a way that incorporates effective, fantasy, and kinesthetic modalities. 

As seen in today’s society, it has become clear that exposure to domestic violence is an issue that many young children face. And if left untreated, it can cause long-lasting, negative effects. Children who have dealt with trauma and domestic violence need to feel safe, loved, and understood. As play is the natural language of children, play therapy is an extremely effective way to treat children exposed to such events. 

Hall, J. G. (2019). Child-centered play therapy as a means of healing children exposed to domestic violence. International Journal of Play Therapy, 28(2), 98–106. doi: 10.1037/pla0000097

Child-Centered Play Therapy and Domestic Violence

Jennifer Geddes Hall

In this article, Jennifer Geddes Hall, a professor from Clemson University, discusses the effects of trauma on young children. Throughout the passage Hall goes over the many benefits that play therapy has on children who have been exposed to such trauma. She defines play therapy as “ a natural way for children to communicate and to increase self-awareness as well as communicate this awareness to others.” Statistics show that play therapy is an effective means for treating externalizing and internalizing problems in children. Therapists who promote child-centered play therapy value a holistic approach. They seek to build genuine, empathetic relationships with the child that attends to their cognitions, behaviors, and emotions. This creates a safe environment for the child to explore, build self esteem, and most importantly, play! Play therapy also encourages children to build crucial life skills such as decision-making and problem-solving.

Hall also stresses the positive impact that play therapy has on children who have experienced trauma during nonverbal and preverbal developmental stages. This type of trauma exists subconsciously and becomes increasingly evident during the later stages of child development. Play therapy offers a cathartic solution to counter the negative effects that have spurred from past trauma. As this form of trauma is unconsciously created, play therapy acts as a medium to access various emotions. Play allows children to access their feelings in a way that incorporates effective, fantasy, and kinesthetic modalities. 

As seen in today’s society, it has become clear that exposure to domestic violence is an issue that many young children face. And if left untreated, it can cause long-lasting, negative effects. Children who have dealt with trauma and domestic violence need to feel safe, loved, and understood. As play is the natural language of children, play therapy is an extremely effective way to treat children exposed to such events. 

Hall, J. G. (2019). Child-centered play therapy as a means of healing children exposed to domestic violence. International Journal of Play Therapy, 28(2), 98–106. doi: 10.1037/pla0000097