Beyond Play Therapy: Alternative Styles of Child Therapy for Anxiety Treatment

While play therapy may be the most standard intervention for child mental health therapy, at Kairos Wellness Collective, therapists look beyond the mainstream techniques and utilize varied evidence-based approaches to support.  Every child that enters our office has a significantly different emotional profile and it is often helpful to additionally draw on CBT, Sand Tray, Art Therapy, and Digital Art therapy to support their mental health growth. 

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) 

CBT for children is a type of psychotherapy that has been found to be highly effective in helping children manage difficult thoughts and feelings. It involves identifying and changing unhealthy thinking patterns, behaviors, and emotions in order to create healthier ways of responding to life’s problems. In CBT sessions with children, therapists typically use play, art activities, and other fun methods of engagement to help kids understand their problem-solving skills. While the therapist provides tools to help them cope with their negative emotions or beliefs, they also empower children with the knowledge and skills they need to become successful in managing their own emotional health.

CBT is a collaborative process between the therapist and the child, but often needs additional parent sessions to solidify growth. Parents may support the therapist in identifying and analyzing their child’s thought patterns, rewarding/encouraging their child to develop new skills to manage emotions, behaviors and thoughts, and setting realistic goals for change. 

Sand Tray Therapy 

Sand Tray Therapy is another type of play therapy that utilizes sand, toys and sand tray materials to help children express their feelings and work through emotional issues. The sand tray acts as a canvas for the child to create scenes with figurines or objects in order to tell stories about what is going on in their lives. By focusing on play within the therapeutic context, clients are able to explore their emotions in a non-threatening environment and can find creative solutions to life’s challenges.

Sand Tray Therapy is often used when verbal therapy may not be appropriate or accessible due to mental or physical impairments or because the child lacks language skills. This type of therapy provides an opportunity for the child to communicate without the use of words and has been found to be particularly effective in treating trauma, grief, loss, aggression, depression and anxiety. 

Traditional Art Therapy

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses visual art-making as a primary therapeutic tool. It has been used to treat children for many decades, with evidence suggesting its effectiveness in helping them to express emotions, process difficult experiences, and improve their sense of wellbeing. Studies have found that art therapy can help reduce symptoms associated with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, as well as behavioral problems such as aggression. Art therapy can also help children develop self-esteem and social skills, learn problem-solving strategies, and build resilience. As an added benefit, many children find the creative process enjoyable and calming.

At Kairos Wellness Collective, child therapists have access to dozens of materials, including old magazines, art journals, tactile art materials, upcycled boxes, and much more.  

Digital Art Therapy

Digital art therapy tools are becoming increasingly popular and effective in providing therapeutic support to those who may not have access to traditional face-to-face counseling. Digital art therapy allows individuals to express their thoughts, emotions, and experiences through the use of digital media such as drawing, painting, photography, multimedia collages, and more. Using these techniques can help people reduce stress, gain self-awareness, cope with difficult emotions and transitions, develop insight into relationships and problem solve. It also encourages creativity which can be a powerful tool for personal growth. Examples of popular digital art therapy tools include computer-based programs such as ArtTherapy Studio or ColorMyMind; mobile apps like Drawspace or Paint My Mind; web-based platforms such as SketchPad or ArtRage; and even virtual reality tools like ArtooVR. No matter which type of digital art therapy tool is used, it can be a powerful tool to promote self-expression, creative exploration, and ultimately mental health and well-being.

Digital art therapy also offers other benefits such as increased accessibility to people who are geographically isolated or unable to access traditional counseling services due to financial  or other restrictions. Additionally, as digital technology evolves, so does the range of tools available for art therapy which can be used to tailor individualized experiences and interventions for clients. This increased flexibility in diagnosis and treatment can be extremely beneficial when working with certain populations such as those with physical disabilities or language barriers.

To learn more about cognitive behavioral therapy, please contact Kairos Wellness today for more information.