Discuss at least four benefits of using group play therapy with children

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

The benefits of group play therapy are:
There is substantiated evidence of positive outcomes for group members who are children.
Play therapy enables children to use toys and games to explore and to express themselves naturally, spontaneously, and metaphorically.
Play allows children to bridge the chasm between their experiences and understanding, thereby providing the means for insight, learning, problem solving, coping, and mastery.
Group play allows children to explore, experiment, and learn about themselves and others, ultimately, linking the experiences in group with reality.
Group play therapy (GPT) with children serves a broad spectrum of needs, ages, modes, and settings; more importantly.
Group leadership can be directive and/or nondirective, structured or free-form, challenging or supportive, and limit-setting or permissive; further, the counselor “encourages both conformity to group norms and freedom of self-expression”
Play and art therapy activities can be used to diffuse children’s anxiety about talking about their thoughts and feelings, which provides an important medium for self-expression.
Play therapy aligns well with the ASCA National Model (ASCA, 2012) as GPT is a direct counseling service a when delivering group work with children in schools.
Research has supported the use of GPT to improve social and emotional development, which removes barriers to learning and leads to academic success (Allen & Barber, 2015; Blanco & Ray, 2011).
Using GPT enhances a student’s problem-solving skills, heightens social interaction and cooperation, increases self-confidence, (resulting in improved learning skills and participation), and diminishes both internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems.
While there is limited research on group counseling with children younger than school age, some studies have addressed the use of GPT as an effective intervention before a child even begins school.