Turning Point Counseling
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Play Therapy in Ridgeland & Flowood, MS

Home Services Play Therapy
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At Turning Point Counseling, we offer Play Therapy in Ridgeland and Flowood, MS, designed to help children express their emotions and experiences in a safe, creative environment. Our trained therapists use play as a therapeutic tool, allowing children to communicate feelings and resolve conflicts through games, art, and role-play. This approach is particularly effective for children dealing with trauma, anxiety, or behavioral issues, as it encourages healing through self-expression. By engaging in Play Therapy, children can develop coping skills, enhance their emotional intelligence, and build stronger relationships with family and peers. We are dedicated to supporting your child’s growth and well-being in a nurturing setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is play therapy?
Children and adolescents communicate through play, which is one of many reasons why this form of counseling is utilized as a means of helping children express themselves, communicate their feelings or explore life events that may have affected them. Our therapists create a safe environment in which the child is allowed to play with very little limits as possible. The playroom is equipped with a selection of specifically chosen toys that are designed to encourage the child to express his or her feelings. As the child plays, our therapist will observe to learn about specific thoughts and emotions that a child may find difficult to express through words.
What are the benefits of play therapy? Or how does play therapy help a child?

By creating a safe consistent environment, a play therapy session can assist a child usually ranging in age from 5 to 12 (depending on each child’s developmental capability) become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies. Several goals of play therapy include:

  • Development of new and creative solutions to problems.
  • Development of respect and acceptance of self and others.
  • Ability to experience and express emotion.
  • Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others.
  • Learn new social skills and relational skills with family.
  • Development of self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities.

Play therapy can be a place of consistency in a child’s life who may be going through transition regarding parent’s separation, divorce, moving, changing schools, trauma, and other life stressors.

What would a play therapy session look like?
Typical play therapy sessions last approximately 45 minutes. During the first few sessions, the therapist focuses on building a trusting relationship with the child allowing the child to freely play with very few restrictions or rules. As time progresses, the therapist may introduce specific items or activities which are related to certain issues that the child may be facing. The child’s interactions with the toys serve as symbols for their words. Toys used in the sessions may include a sandbox, miniature figures, art materials, legos, costumes, stuffed animals, dolls, indoor sports equipment and other indoor games. Therapist and child are engaged face to face in a variety of play with each child adapting to non directive or directive play therapy. Each child has specific goals (created by the parent and therapist) and will tailor interventions accordingly.
How long will I have to bring my child the therapy?
While there is no set amount of sessions suggested, every child’s treatment plan depends on the individual child and the needs and goals identified. Play therapy can be a great tool to build emotional intelligence and communication skills at an early age. Therefore, play therapy can always be a benefit to a child in addition to identifying and addressing presenting issues as well. The child has a great opportunity to learn appropriate boundaries and an ability to form a healthy safe relationship with the therapist that may help the child in day to day situations as well as large crises.