Therapeutic Techniques

Art Therapy

Art Therapy is a mental health profession in which clients, facilitated by the Art Therapist, use art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork to explore their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem. (American Art Therapy Association)
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Playing to Live uses art therapy based theory to teach local facilitators to implement supportive art programming to help trauma effected children to build self esteem, healthy relationships, through expression using various forms. 

Play Ther​apy

Play Therapy is the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development. (Play Therapy Association)

Playing to Live teaches local facilitators to conduct supportive games and play techniques with kids to help them feel more comfortable socializing and overcoming social stigma.
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Child Life Services 

Child life specialists are pediatric health care professionals who work with children and families in hospitals and other settings to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illness, disability, trauma, and end of life. They provide children with age-appropriate preparation for medical procedures, pain management and coping strategies, and play and self-expression activities. They also provide information, support, and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members.

Playing to Live uses child life techniques and activities to support the developmental needs of children in high trauma communities, advocate for family-centered care services, and ease fear and anxiety through therapeutic and recreational play activities. 

Yoga Therapy

Yoga Therapy uses yoga postures, breathing techniques, meditation and yogic philosophies to empower individuals towards improved health and well-being. (The International Association of Yoga Therapists)

Playing to Live uses yoga therapy based activities to helps kids feel more comfortable with their own self and discover different ways to express themselves.

Why is Supportive Art and Play So Effective?

Play is a child’s natural form of communication. If we pay attention to how children are interacting with us, they are always communicating- in the form of play. Children do not need to be talking to be communicating with us. Children are excellent at communicating through play- but adults are not as excellent as noticing this natural form of communication and sometimes don’t understand the significance play has. A child’s “first” language, so to speak, is play. Their second language is their native verbal language. Even when children are old enough to speak, communicate, and articulate their thoughts and feelings, their more natural more comfortable form of communication is still play. Play is intrinsic, inherently complete and universal.

Play is meaningful for a child in many ways. Children use play to work through issues they may be having. Children use play to try to understand different feelings they may be experiencing even if they do not understand why they are having such feelings. Often children do not have the verbal ability or cognitive understanding to communicate their thoughts and/or feelings with caring adults-thus play is imperative at helping children learn a secure sense of self, self worth, and coping skills, to name a few. Much research exists on the therapeutic value of play and how children are able to work through trauma, abuse, grief and loss, mental health concerns, behavioral concerns, developmental issues, general life stressors and much more. By utilizing play as a theoretical basis, Playing to Live! is able to harness a child’s inner strength, build on resilience, and assist these children in further developing coping skills.

Cultural Relevance & Sensitivity

Playing to Live utilizes evidence based expressive art therapy techniques that have been identified by licensed Expressive Art Therapists as relevant and useful for the recovery and support of the children experiencing the trauma. The supportive techniques have then been rigorously evaluated and critiqued by the local leaders and liaisons that work with kids to ensure cultural relevance. Our supportive art and play program is implemented by local community leaders and assessed through reports and standard evaluations.