Who doesn’t love to play? It’s very interesting how much more difficult it can be for us as adults to do what kids and animals do so easily: step right into play.
While “play” might be defined differently for everyone, the basic qualities of play encompass voluntary, spontaneous, exaggerated or modified behavior for pure enjoyment. Play is interesting from an evolutionary standpoint because, at first glance, it does not appear to accomplish any goals that would be considered necessary for immediate survival. Yet it turns out that play offers a number of individual and collective benefits. Plus, within the mental health conversation, engagement in activities simply for the pleasure and enjoyment of it is woefully underrepresented.
If you like to nerd out about the neurophysiological “reasons” for things, then you will be interested to know that the neuroscience of play is quite complex and context dependent, and it seems to involve both cortical and subcortical regions of the brain, including the default mode network. In general, play balances task-oriented engagement and mindless wandering. Play may help support malleability of self-directed thought by facilitating a relationship between self, others, and/or the environment. Play can produce feelings of freedom, autonomy, and expressiveness and making time for play is associated with increased life satisfaction, including adaptability to change. Collaborative social play may also increase feelings of connectedness through activating mirror neurons, releasing oxytocin, and enhancing empathy.
Play in the Therapy Office
Although the therapeutic benefits of play have been known for centuries, the practice remains unconventional. Neuropsychologists are well-versed in the benefits of play throughout the lifespan: engagement, creativity, and stress-reduction are ingredients for neuroplasticity and mind-body connection, associated with cognitive flexibility and increased resilience. Play is universal, and thus play therapy is an inclusive approach, effective across cultures, neurodiversity, and physical ability. As an exploration of each individual person’s internal landscape, play can bring up embodied experiences of positive emotions, humor, and engagement with something outside of the self.
More recently, the idea of “gamification” has entered the mental health space. Gamification refers to using gaming elements (i.e., scoring, rewards, or quests) in a non-game context, in this case, psychotherapy. While this approach is still very underutilized and understudied, it is gaining traction for its potential to increase approachability to, engagement with, and effectiveness of therapy. Types of games that have been most commonly incorporated thus far are movement-based games, art-based games, virtual reality games, biofeedback games, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) games, each adapted for client goals and treatment plans.
Movement and art-based games, such as integrating martial arts, dance, or drama (to name just a few of many options), might support somatic release of psychological tension as well as practicing social engagements. While VR may be incorporated in a number of ways for any modality of game, it has gained attention for its use in exposure therapy and biofeedback; VR and biofeedback systems allow the client real-time assessment of their physiological responses, such as heart rate and respiration, to different stimuli, using the virtual space and virtual support characters as a proxy to real-life exposure. In these games, clients can watch and feel how emotional regulation mechanisms, such as intentional breathing, might impact their stress responses. CBT-based games may involve a narrative taking place in a fantasy environment, involving discussions with other characters and problem solving. Other styles of CBT games may use points, badges, and leaderboards to track lifestyle interventions like incorporating mindfulness.
Conclusion
Play is an important part of the human experience, bringing levity, joy, and mind-body-spirit engagement to life. Traditional psychotherapy may not work for everyone, particularly folks who are less inclined to use linear language as a therapeutic strategy. Therefore, play offers a unique opportunity for client-therapist dyads to explore relational dynamics, establishing meaningful connections, and improved outcomes.
