Play therapy harnesses a child’s natural language of play. Through storytelling, puppetry, building, and imaginative play, students learn to express themselves within a safe and nurturing environment. For students with anxiety, depression, ADHD, or trauma-related disorders, play therapy can teach coping skills, emotional regulation techniques, and problem-solving strategies.
The Teaching Family Model–the foundation for all intervention at Garfield Park Academy–emphasizes the creation of a supportive, family-like environment where youth feel safe, respected, and valued. This sense of belonging and community mirrors the therapeutic atmosphere cultivated during play therapy, where children are invited to freely express themselves. Both approaches are rooted in positive reinforcement and relationship-building to facilitate behavioral change and emotional growth.
“Play therapy is a good fit within The Teaching Family Model,” said Audra Snyder, LCSW, Director of Social Work. “Through play, our younger students develop trust, and a supportive relationship is formed, which becomes the foundation for the therapeutic process. They learn that the relationship is safe, and they are accepted without fear of rejection or judgment,” she concluded.
