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Play Therapy With Children Exhibiting Symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a commonly diagnosed disorder, in which the major symptoms are the inability to pay attention, forgetting, inability to sit still or concentrate on a task for a long period of time. Play therapy can be a component of ADHD treatment.

Play therapy is generally used with children between the ages of 3 and 11 and focuses on awareness through play, rather than on the typical adult "talk" therapy.

  1. Participatory Play

    • According to an article by Enrico Gnaulati, who holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, in the December 2008 edition of Play Therapy, letting the child initiate the play is important, but to make inroads in trust and allow the ADHD child to feel the highs and lows of emotion, the therapist should participate in the play and allow the play to have a high level of activity. Many therapists have begun to see ADHD as a social disorder. Active play allows children to compete and take turns, emote and work out their social deficit in a safe, trusting environment.

    Child-Centered Play Therapy

    • Most children, under the age of 10, communicate naturally through play. Children do respond to verbal and non-verbal interactions with adults, and in child-centered play therapy, the adults respond to the child's choice of play to help communicate understanding to the child and increase their awareness of behavior and emotions, bringing a larger meaning to the play.

    Structured Play Therapy

    • Structured play therapy uses specific activities or a choice of specific activities to achieve certain therapy goals. With children with ADHD, some of these therapy goals include increasing time on task, following directions, taking turns and focusing for memory retention.

    Self-Regulation

    • Children with ADHD, often lack the ability to self-regulate. They lack skill in the areas of controlling their focus and controlling their emotions. When children with ADHD experience a high level of emotion, it is often difficult for them to be able to regulate their emotional level back down to a functional level. According to Laura Andrucki Izzo, a psychotherapist and director the FOCUS Center in Englewood, New Jersey, play is the primary means by which children learn and the "benefits of play therapy include opportunities to learn emotional as well as physical self-regulation. A good play therapist should always role model and offer children a variety of sensory experiences as well as physical activities and training in relaxation techniques."

    The Therapeutic Relationship

    • Creating a positive therapeutic relationship with the child is essential for helping to effect awareness and change. The connections between the therapist and the child help the child to feel safe and to trust their play can be genuine. A sense of humor and an attitude of caring and warmth can create an atmosphere in which the child becomes willing to accept direction and be willing to work on the therapeutic goals.

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