Play Therapy Tools and Techniques

Play Therapy Tools and Techniques

I am not saying therapy does not work as I am a trained therapist, but sometimes I think there has to be a better method than traditional psychotherapy for gathering information fast, and helping our patients get rapid results. It occurred to me that perhaps teddy bears might help. After all, teddy bears are one of the first objects we attach to. They are such a natural method of sharing information between people, that I find it hard to believe they aren't applied more frequently with adults and with children in our practice. Children and adults love them. Yes even adult men like teddy bears even though the macho image prevents them from admitting that publicly. To me, a licensed clinical social worker, teddy bears are just one of the tools of my trade. It's like the doctor with the stethoscope. They are just part of my practice.

They are a great technique and for the past 7 years I have applied them in my clinical practice. They are such a natural method of sharing information and promote great storytelling. They bypass the awkwardness of some of the traditional models. They are easy to talk to. It is far easier to open up and speak with your teddy bear, then sometimes it is with a counselor. I have watched grown men and women apply teddy bears and get rapid results in treatment. The information flows like a river of information rushing forth, far quicker than with traditional methods. The words and stories become the clients stories and people see through the eyes of a teddy bear faster than they do with traditional counseling methods. If you are a health care provider, I invite you to try applying teddy bears in your practice. You will find that you get assessment and intervention results much faster than any traditional methods. They are a great tool to work through problems related to grief and loss, or substance abuse or domestic violence.

By Tammy Stoner

Tammy Stoner is a licensed clinical social worker. She has developed a powerful psychosocial assessment tool for social workers, marriage and family therapists and counselors to get information fast. She provides online coaching and counseling services and classes for health care providers. More information can be found at her website at http://www.interactiveteddybears.com/