QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
"How long does one therapy session last?"
I sometimes replace the word "session" with the word "meeting" (because few children sit during their therapy!). A therapeutic meeting lasts 45 minutes, once a week, on a fixed day and time. It is a good idea to arrive 5-10 minutes before the start so that the child has the opportunity to calmly acclimatize to being in a therapeutic environment that is different from our usual environment from which the child comes.
"How many sessions will the child have to attend?"
The shortest minimum time to achieve the desired positive results is 12 sessions. However, this applies to the least complicated problems that children come with (for example, "refusal to go to school"). Children with ADHD, ASD, experienced trauma, loss of a loved one, low self-esteem, divorced parents, such people need more time because their psyche is more deeply affected and needs to work on several problems. This happens gradually and therefore takes longer. Why? I will explain:
Children first build trust in their therapist, learn new rules, integrate them into their routines, and only then does therapy begin to introduce them to who they are - building self-confidence and self-assurance. Only when this most difficult aspect is overcome or adjusted can the child begin to work on issues such as responsibility, respect for others, willingness to overcome negative feelings and submission (school), etc.
It's a long-term job, but children are willing, even have a desire to get rid of all these burdens, because as I have stated elsewhere: Humans are programmed by nature to want to feel good and be perceived as such.
"How do you monitor changes?"
In play therapy, we use several tools to measure and evaluate the effectiveness of therapy. These include SDQ forms, questionnaires filled out during meetings with parents, set goals and their comparison (before and after), meetings with the teacher (at the request of the parents), clinical observation and recording, HTP picture analysis, sandwork analysis, mandala.
"Can play therapy make a naughty child good?"
Everyone wants their "naughty child" to start behaving well as soon as possible. But that's not how play therapy works.
Deep down, every child knows that they must first feel good about themselves. Only then can they focus on what others expect of them - especially if everyone says they are "naughty."
After the child has worked out their own opinion of themselves and found the self-confidence they are looking for, only then can they work on "what others think."
It's quite comforting to think about this: No child wants to be "naughty." It's human nature to want to be liked by others. So the reason for being naughty is not conscious.
"What if my child suddenly doesn't want to walk?"
It happens. Parents feel like their child is just doing it to piss them off even more.
It depends on the relationship between the parents and the child and the boundaries that are respected in the family. When a child suddenly "doesn't want" to go to therapy, we can perceive it as the child's communication: "I need more of your attention". Why do children do this? It may be a new awareness of this very need.
Of course, every child has an instinctive need for their parents' attention. Our survival depends on our parents' attention. But if children do not receive the attention they need, a deficit arises that can trigger other problems (mostly behavioral or psychosomatic). However, when a child has the opportunity (for example, in therapy) to become aware of this deficit, they do not know how to deal with it. Quite commonly, they may start refusing to say goodbye to their parent, or they may start to "be more naughty". Because being naughty, to be honest, always takes its toll: a naughty child gets attention. Negative attention, but they get it. And unfortunately, even such attention is satisfactory for the child's subconscious. However, it is unsuitable for their self-consciousness. But more about that later!
But what about that?
It is necessary to name what is happening out loud, quite neutrally, without negative emotions: "I understand, you feel like you don't want to. It's hard for you when you don't want to. We'll go together and everything will be fine."
It is necessary to continue in therapy, to overcome the difficult period of self-awareness, not to give up. When parents lovingly and patiently support their child in overcoming difficulties, they will go even further together.
"What is the SDQ form?"
The name SDQ is derived from the English name "Strengths and Difficulties Questionaire". This is an originally English questionnaire mapping strengths and difficulties from the perspective of the parent, teacher and the child themselves in five areas:
emotional
interaction with peers
hyper-activity (internal restlessness)
behavior (nonverbal communication)
pro-social (need to be part of society).
The SDQ questionnaire is not an "assessment" but rather a kind of map that provides an understanding of what is happening to the child and why.
The SDQ questionnaire is completed before the start of therapy and then at regular intervals during therapy. It is one of the tools for measuring the success of therapy or the new approach of the environment to the child.
"For what age children is play therapy appropriate?"
Play therapy is a catch-all term for a form of psychotherapy in which clients use randomly selected creative activities to communicate with a therapist. Too complicated an explanation?
Quite simply: Have you ever played tag with your child? Have you ever picked up modeling clay and made something with your child? Do you ever build Lego with your children? And how does it feel when you can sing by the fire with your friends?
These are all creative activities. At least that's how our brain perceives it.
When we engage in creative activities, we move away from rational thinking and dive deeper into the subconscious - we "forget about our worries". The hormones oxytocin, endorphins, serotonin start to flow in our blood... and lo and behold, we just feel good. Wish it could last forever? Lack of time and the need to "function" force us to avoid these activities. And not only us adults. Our children too. And it doesn't matter how old they are. And no, mobile games won't save it.
People of all ages, even adults, will find room for creativity in a therapeutic workshop. So don't be confused by the term "play therapy".
And play! It's healthy!
"I don't feel well. Is it possible that I need therapy too?"
Many people fear that going to a therapist (psychologist) is a sign of weakness, an admission that I am incapable, that I have failed at something...
The opposite is true. Admitting that I need help and seeking it is brave and wise. Personally, I consider this act a certain responsibility towards my children, my family, and most importantly, towards myself.
Parents are often surprised that I rarely meet a person who doesn't need therapy.
Therapy saves lives, families, relationships, and marriages.
Therapy is at least like a good multivitamin that we take to strengthen our immunity. Immunity to the difficulties, events, and situations that we are exposed to daily and that are an integral part of our lives.
Is there anyone who doesn't experience something like this?