Many children who are treated for disruptive behavior problems are school-age. They’ve been acting out in class, ignoring or defying teachers’ direction, or being too aggressive with other children.

In many cases, these children have been exhibiting problematic behavior for years before they start school. Early intervention is key when dealing with behaviors of children in order to address issues before they escalate into larger problems later in childhood or adolescents.

Using a variety of play therapy and child development-based techniques, children as young as three years old can benefit substantially. Play therapy utilizes play, children\’s natural medium of expression, to help them express their feelings more easily through toys, sand, therapy animals, art, and activities, instead of just words. Using these modalities, children are taught to exhibit emotional functioning through play and art. Children do not have the cognitive capability to verbalize issues, events, or trauma they might be experiencing and having a safe environment to act out their feelings allows the therapist to get a better understanding of what the child is trying to say exhibited by their concerning behaviors.