Play!
I think play is so therapeutic I devoted a whole page to it.
We're socialized to believe only kids should let loose and play, that it has no value. Don't believe it. That's (understandable) fear and insecurity talking. Past clients of mine would tell you that I often prescribe play as part of treatment. But, we don't need a prescription to play. We inherently know how to do it. And, it's fun! Who doesn't want to have fun? More than that, play also loosens constrictions, freeing up the mind and the brain and the body. It opens the door to create new associations and new ideas about one’s self, one’s past, and one’s future. It helps regulate the central nervous system and neuroscience tells us its one of the very best things we can do to create a resilient brain. It also can help us engage better interpersonally. The more we allow ourselves to play the more we come to know our boundaries and our limits and, if need be, redefine them.
Authentic laughter and joy are a robust part of treatment. Our goal is to be happy and joyful in our lives. So, when and if it feels right, why not express that in session?
Of course there are times when play does not feel right, such as during acute grief. I also know well that some folks have been in survival mode for so long, whether it's because of a lack of food, clothing or shelter; the remnants of individual and/or systemic trauma; impacts of oppression; debilitatting illness; or because of being shamed much of our lives that the innate urge to play isn't easily accessed and our neural wires need a little rewiring. Sometimes getting through the day takes up all our energy and resources. But, when the time is right we can start to reconnect to our inborn sense of play.
Albert Einstein once said, "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." He knew the play of the imagination allows for expanded thinking and awareness and, thus, expanded possibilities.
Go, ahead: make an effort to include more (non-competitive) play in your life and see what happens!
We're socialized to believe only kids should let loose and play, that it has no value. Don't believe it. That's (understandable) fear and insecurity talking. Past clients of mine would tell you that I often prescribe play as part of treatment. But, we don't need a prescription to play. We inherently know how to do it. And, it's fun! Who doesn't want to have fun? More than that, play also loosens constrictions, freeing up the mind and the brain and the body. It opens the door to create new associations and new ideas about one’s self, one’s past, and one’s future. It helps regulate the central nervous system and neuroscience tells us its one of the very best things we can do to create a resilient brain. It also can help us engage better interpersonally. The more we allow ourselves to play the more we come to know our boundaries and our limits and, if need be, redefine them.
Authentic laughter and joy are a robust part of treatment. Our goal is to be happy and joyful in our lives. So, when and if it feels right, why not express that in session?
Of course there are times when play does not feel right, such as during acute grief. I also know well that some folks have been in survival mode for so long, whether it's because of a lack of food, clothing or shelter; the remnants of individual and/or systemic trauma; impacts of oppression; debilitatting illness; or because of being shamed much of our lives that the innate urge to play isn't easily accessed and our neural wires need a little rewiring. Sometimes getting through the day takes up all our energy and resources. But, when the time is right we can start to reconnect to our inborn sense of play.
Albert Einstein once said, "If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales." He knew the play of the imagination allows for expanded thinking and awareness and, thus, expanded possibilities.
Go, ahead: make an effort to include more (non-competitive) play in your life and see what happens!