A Review of Play Therapy Interventions for Chronic Illness (Essay Sample)

A Review of Play Therapy Interventions for Chronic Illness
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A Review of Play Therapy Interventions for Chronic Illness:
Application to Childhood Obesity Prevention and Treatment
The article has highlighted the importance of ensuring that children who have chronic illnesses have been treated since the illness affects the family and the child. Treatment for children with chronic illnesses should target both the family system and the diagnosed child. One of the primary treatments that have proven to be effective for children with chronic illnesses is utilization of play therapy since it ensures that a child has developed a positive self-image that is responsible for creating a healthy relationship between the child and the parent. Play therapy is also effective when dealing with children who have who are overweight or obese. Play therapy provides physicians with interventions that can be used for future prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. 
Play therapy offers children with chronic illnesses with effective psychological outcomes where both the parent and the child are exposed to behavioral changes that improve the child's health. There are many children especially in the United States who have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses. Obesity, which has been classified as a disease, is considered to be chronic with more than 5% of children in the United States having been diagnosed with obesity and being overweight (Palmer, Pratt, & Goodway, 2017). The study has also indicated that most children who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop psychological commodities that are costly and adversely affect their health as they grow up. Play therapy ensures that the shock that most families get after their children have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses has been reduced. 
Play therapy ensures that children who have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses receive effective treatment and at the same time they receive psychological treatment which helps in recovery. The families of the children are also given psychological help to help them cope with the situation. Play therapy ensures that children with chronic illnesses do not develop mental health conditions that may adversely affect their lives as they grow up. Play therapy ensures that parents and guardians of children who have chronic illnesses or children who are obese received the necessary compassion fatigue help to improve their parenting activities (Palmer, Pratt, & Goodway, 2017). The family members of children who have been diagnosed with chronic illnesses are also provided with effective methods of relieving stress that they may experience due to the diagnosis. Family-based treatment therapy is also important in preventing development of future health complications for other family members. The differences in terms of interactions that come after a child has been diagnosed with a chronic illness are also addressed when play therapy is used. It is important for the therapists to ensure that both the child and their family have understood the diagnosis so that they can cope with what is happening in their child's life and health.