Getting teens to talk can be hard work! Talking about problems directly can seem scary, confusing, or embarrassing. A lot of teens hate the idea of talking to adults, and this may leave them (and their parents) feeling like therapy may not be the best way to help.<\/p>\n

Boy, do we have news for you! \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n

Moving past traditional talk therapy and into creative counseling can be a tremendous help for teens. When we hear the word \u201ctherapy\u201d we often picture someone laying on a couch, and a therapist sitting next to or behind them, asking questions and waiting for the client to talk. (Thanks, media, for those stereotypes! \ud83d\ude1c )<\/p>\n

But in reality, therapy can \u2013 and does \u2013 go beyond conversation, regardless of age. Using different treatment approaches to meet you where you\u2019re at is our number one goal, and many of the treatment options available today are\u00a0 going to incorporate more than \u201cjust talking.\u201d Although play therapy may not be something you\u2019d think of for anyone over the age of 12, it is a tried and true method with lasting benefits for teens who come to therapy.<\/p>\n

Why Choose Play Therapy for Teens<\/h3>\n

A lot of teens are more receptive to coming to appointments when they know we\u2019ll be doing activities instead of asking them a ton of questions. I often describe to my clients and their parents that I totally get it \u2013 if I sat at school all day, got asked questions all day, and (maybe) responded all day, I really wouldn\u2019t want to do that at the end of the night or on a weekend. Providing something fun and relaxing can break the monotony of the day, and gives opportunities for organic conversation that occurs when you\u2019re relaxed, comfortable, and feeling good in the moment.<\/p>\n

As a parent, you probably know how difficult this can be for your teen \u2013 if you ask, \u201cHow was your day?\u201d or \u201cWhat\u2019s bothering you?\u201d you\u2019re often met with a shrug or an, \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d Through use of activities, games, and art, teens are able to tap into the emotional side of their brains, creating more effective, long-lasting progress. Being in an environment that allows indirect exploration of what\u2019s bothering them, and how their day was, is an opportunity that teens may not have in other settings to navigate their thoughts and feelings, something that is tough to do with just words sometimes.<\/p>\n

Supporting Their Comfort Zone<\/h3>\n

Adolescence is a difficult time, and we\u2019re all probably confused at one point on how \u201cadult\u201d to treat a teen, and how \u201cchildlike\u201d to treat a teen. But teens are their own people, and they\u2019re at their own unique developmental stage that must be recognized to create real progress and lead to healthy life skills.<\/p>\n

Play therapy, though many initially think is for younger kids, is actually right in the comfort zone and developmental stage for a teen. It\u2019s non-confrontational. It\u2019s non-interpretive. It\u2019s non-threatening. And it allows free expression. Because of the hands-on experience throughout the session, clients are better able to transfer strategies to home and school since they are experiencing change rather than discussing change.<\/p>\n

One of my favorite aspects of experiential therapies like play and art therapy is the opportunity it provides for clients to gain confidence and discover new talents or interests. Through games, crafts, art, yoga, and other activities, teens who were hesitant at one point are now able to try something new in a judgement-free zone, with no worries about \u201closing\u201d a game or misunderstanding it, or if their art is \u201cgood enough.\u201d I promise, your therapist thinks you\u2019re wonderful and talented, and we love seeing your growth while you learn new things!<\/p>\n

Favorite Teen Play Therapy Activities<\/h3>\n

We\u2019re open to any interests our clients have in a game or activity, even sometimes bringing their own things from home to our sessions! Some of our favorite activities that we do at our office with our teen clients are listed below. Since every person is different and has unique needs, these activities are used in a way that best benefits the client – there is no one-size-fits-all to our methods!<\/p>\n

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• Yoga therapy<\/li>\n
• Collages<\/li>\n
• Playing card games<\/li>\n
• Coloring books<\/li>\n
• Chess<\/li>\n
• Origami<\/li>\n
• Uno<\/li>\n
• LEGOs<\/li>\n
• Boards games like Jenga, LIFE, Mastermind, and Mancala<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

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