Goals of Play Therapy
Goals of Play Therapy
Before a child begins play therapy sessions, it is important for the play therapist and the child’s parents/caregivers to have an initial meeting to discuss and identify specific skills that parents/caregivers would like for their child to develop as they progress through play therapy sessions, which guides the development of specific goals for the child. When developing specific goals for a child, it is also important to consider that the goals are also realistic and age-appropriate for the child.
Some of the most common skills that play therapy sessions can assist children with developing include assisting a child to improve their social skills, supporting a child to develop an improved sense of self, helping a child to improve their emotional regulation skills, helping a child to improve their skills to express themselves, and supporting a child to develop a more positive self-esteem. In addition to these skills, play therapy can also support a child to improve other specific skills including becoming more accepting of themselves, improving their decision-making skills, developing coping skills for challenging situations at home or school, and learning to understand that their feelings are acceptable to experience.
For children who have an NDIS plan, the play therapist and parents can refer to the child’s NDIS goals to guide them to choose specific goals that the play therapy sessions can focus on assisting the child to achieve. For example, specific play therapy goals can be developed to assist a child with their broader NDIS goals which may include goals for the child to improve their social skills, self-regulation skills, or peer relationship skills.
Once the play therapy goals have been developed for a child, the parents/caregivers and the play therapist will then arrange regular and suitable times to meet again to discuss the child’s progress with their goals. The play therapist and the parents/caregivers usually meet every four to six play therapy sessions that a child has. Having these regular meetings is helpful as it allows the parents/caregivers to meet regularly with the play therapist to collaborate to discuss how the child is progressing with their goals, and also allows them to identify any additional specific goals and skills that play therapy can support the child with. In addition to discussing a child’s progress with their goals, having regular meetings between the play therapist and the parents/caregivers also allows the parents/caregivers to ask any questions that they may have, and also allows the play therapist to provide relevant resources and strategies to the parents/caregivers that they may find helpful to use to support their child to progress with their development and progress towards achieving their goals.
References:
Dion, L. (Presenter). (2017, September 4). Setting great goals in the playroom. [Audio podcast episode]. Lessons from the playroom.
Post, P.B., Ceballos, P.L., & Penn, S.L. (2012). Collaborating with parents to establish behavioural goals in child-centred play therapy. The Family Journal: Counselling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 20(1), 51-57.