Experiencing the death of a loved one is hard on anyone, no matter their age. However, children often suffer from a lot of confusion when someone they love passes away. It is hard for children to understand what happened to that person or why they aren't coming back. Fortunately, play therapy can provide children with an outlet, proper coping mechanisms, and also help families understand a child's grief process.

Why Use Play Therapy?

It is not uncommon for a child to experience loss. In fact, it is said that one out of every five children will experience the death of someone they love by the time they reach 18 years of age. Also, take into consideration that approximately 1.5 million children reside in a household consisting of only one parent because of the death of the other parent.

Therefore, grief and loss are no stranger to a child, which is why it is so important to find ways to help children cope. A psychiatrist will often provide different options that work best for children, including play therapy. Play therapy provides children with an effective way to communicate their emotions, particularly in relation to grief and traumatic experiences.

Keep in mind that not all forms of play are play therapy. Play therapy is often provided by a qualified professional, such as a psychiatrist, counselor, or therapist. The mental health professional provides guidance throughout the session so children can resolve their issues and feelings in a way that feels comfortable.

How Does Play Therapy Help?

Play therapy helps in several different ways. Depending on the age of the child, it might be hard for him or her to find the right words needed to express emotions and feelings of grief. A young child who feels grief may not recognize the emotion. Fortunately, play therapy provides a voice to children who cannot find the words to express themselves.

Play therapy also help families by showing them that children are strong, resilient, and capable of overcoming even the toughest situations. When a child experiences a loss, it is often a common reaction for a parent or care provider to want to hover and worry. However, therapy involving play sessions shows that it is sometimes better to step back and allow children to process emotions at their own pace.

Keep in mind that young children often learn about the world through exploration and play. Children discover what it is they like and dislike. They develop social skills when they play and explore. Play and exploration also allows them to build on creativity and other skills. Therefore, it would make sense to understand why play therapy is such an important aspect of mental health care for grieving children.

If you are interested in learning more about play therapy for your child, speak to a qualified psychiatrist. A psychiatrist can either provide the service or point you in the direction of someone who deals specifically with play therapy. Contact a clinic, like Commonwealth Affiliates PC, for more help.