Play therapy is a “safe restoration” of bad experiences

Play is a human language that goes beyond words, and opens the door to expressing the deepest feelings that language may not be able to describe.

Its role is not limited to entertainment or education, but rather extends to become an effective therapeutic method that restores a person’s psychological balance, whether he is a child facing the effects of violence, or an adult seeking to regain his balance amid the pressures of daily life.

The psychotherapist specializing in counseling and play therapy, Dr. Amjad Abujadi, confirms to “Emirates Today” that “play therapy represents an integrated therapeutic approach that relies on employing the play environment to understand the psychological experience and express it in a symbolic and safe way.”

He explained that the relationship between play therapy and other treatments is a “complementary relationship,” as the therapist can benefit from theoretical methods in other schools of therapy, such as behavioral or narrative therapy, to apply them through the play environment, because “theories help in understanding, while the practical application is through play itself.”

Regarding the importance of this type of treatment, he said that it represents an important tool in supporting children who are victims of violence or exploitation, as it gives them a safe way to express their painful experiences.

He said, “Playing helps the child to speak through symbols instead of words, because children who have experienced trauma are unable to describe their feelings directly, as a result of the disruption of the language centers in the brain.”

He pointed out the importance of training workers in various sectors, whether in police agencies, courts, or social agencies, to understand play therapy techniques, because being aware of a child’s behavior from the first moments of dealing with him contributes to avoiding what is known as “second shock,” which is the condition that forms when a child faces an investigation or interrogation method that does not take into account his psychological state. He explained that the competent authorities can employ play methods when interrogating children, because their games often express the experience they went through, and provide psychological indicators that can be interpreted through interaction. Spontaneous.

He added, “Play creates an environment of communication and breaks down barriers between the child and the party responsible for dealing with him, which helps build confidence and explore the problem without making the child feel afraid or rejected,” stressing the complementary relationship between play therapy and other treatments, as expressive play activities can be combined with therapeutic methods such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to enhance the skills that the therapist seeks to build in the child, or support narrative therapy sessions through interactive activities that stimulate expression and emotional engagement.

He added, “Play therapy is distinguished by its flexibility, as it can be easily integrated with different therapeutic schools, as it provides a safe space for symbolic expression of experiences. The therapeutic aspect is not limited to interpreting behavior only, but extends to creating a new corrective experience that gradually rebuilds the child’s internal security and mitigates the effects of the trauma he is experiencing.”

Regarding the tools used, Dr. Amjad Abujadi explained that play therapy does not depend on specific games, but rather on tools that represent life in all its details, such as dolls, symbolic characters, small animals, and models that reflect different social roles, in addition to tools of artistic expression, such as drawing, paste, clay, sand, music, and movement.

He said: “We give the child a space in which to choose what he feels represents, because the goal is to create a safe environment in which he can express his experience without fear or pressure. During play, the child begins to re-enact the painful experience symbolically, while the therapist helps him to rephrase these symbols, within a framework that can be understood and processed.”

He explained that this type of treatment has a “neuro-cerebral basis,” as it works to calm brain activity associated with the “survival mode” resulting from trauma, and in return activates the areas responsible for imagination and creative thinking, which restores the brain to its natural balance.

He added, “The difference between traditional therapy and play therapy is that the first focuses on talking about the experience, while the second allows it to be represented and dealt with indirectly and in a safer way, which helps in reaching deep healing without provoking fear or resistance.”

Dr. Amjad Abujadi continued: “Play therapy is not limited to children, but it can also be applied to adults in daily life, as an expressive activity that allows them to release repressed feelings that are difficult to express with words.”

He said: “Many literary and artistic works are essentially self-expression through symbolic play. They are a form of play therapy for adults.”

He added, “Activities that allow adults to be free from stress and live in the present moment (such as drawing, creative writing, and using clay or a sandbox) help promote mental health and freedom from stress.”

He explained that employing play in “work environments” has also become an effective means of enhancing psychological well-being, as some institutions adopt self-care programs based on interactive activities that encourage employees to be creative and detach from mental stress. He explained that these applications highlight the importance of integrating play as a therapeutic and educational means into a person’s daily life, regardless of age.

He referred to a special type of play therapy known as “Family Play Therapy,” which is a method that focuses on “involving parents in therapy sessions. In this type of therapy, parents spend about 30 minutes a week in dedicated play sessions with the child according to specific rules, aiming to build a warmer and more trusting relationship.”

He explained that this method has proven effective in dealing with children’s psychological and behavioral problems, such as violence or aggression, as well as in cases of insecure attachment, as it helps “restore the parental relationship” and reshape communication patterns between family members.

He added, “Playing here does not aim for entertainment, but rather to rebuild bridges between the parent and child, and involve them in the therapeutic process in a positive way that creates a common understanding and an environment that supports emotional growth.”

He stressed that play is a psychological necessity, as it is a person’s first language of expression since childhood, and through it the deepest psychological wounds can be treated in a symbolic and humane way. He said: “When we give the child or even the adult a safe space to play, we give him an opportunity to restore his balance with himself and the world around him,” stressing that “play therapy restores the person’s ability to interact positively with his experiences, to transform pain into awareness, and to confront negative feelings.”

• Children who have experienced trauma are unable to describe their feelings, as a result of the disruption of the language centers in the brain.

• Drawing and using clay, or a sandbox, help relieve stress and enhance mental health.