How to Do Play Therapy : Building a Growth Mindset Role Play

Play Therapy Techniques

In this segment of a session with a young boy, the therapist uses play therapy-based techniques to facilitate esteem and offer encouragement. The therapist acknowledges and reinforces the process or effort rather than praising the product.

Facilitating Esteem

• The therapist uses play therapy-based techniques to facilitate esteem and offer encouragement.

• Acknowledges and reinforces the process or effort rather than praising the product.

Offering Help

• The therapist offers help when needed.

• Helps with specific parts of the activity.

Reflecting Feelings

• The therapist reflects feelings to help develop an emotional vocabulary for self-identification.

Maintaining Structure while Acknowledging Wants and Feelings

In this segment of the session, the young boy tries to leave the room. The therapist maintains structure while acknowledging his wants and feelings.

Acknowledging Thirst

• The therapist acknowledges that he is feeling thirsty but reminds him that they will get milk in ten minutes.

• Offers water instead.

Maintaining Structure

• Reminds him that they are almost done before getting up.

• Redirects him back to playing in their designated area.

Symbolic Play

In this segment of this session, the therapist avoids labeling toys that the young boy is playing with. If she does label them, she uses words that he used to label them. This allows for self-directedness and also allows him to express himself creatively since play for young children is symbolic.

Avoiding Labels

• The therapist avoids labeling the toys that the young boy is playing with.

• If she does label them, she uses words that he used to label them.

Self-directed Play

• This allows for self-directedness and also allows him to express himself creatively.

Acknowledging Wants and Feelings

In this segment of the session, the young boy brings toys to the therapist. The therapist acknowledges his wants and feelings.

Acknowledging Wants

• The therapist acknowledges that he wants her to have a toy.

• She clears a space for him to play with it.

Reflecting Feelings

• The therapist reflects on how he was having fun with the toy.

• She asks how he feels about it.