Dallas Play Therapists Serve An Important Role In Children's Lives
According to sociologydegreeprograms.org, "Play therapists work with children who have a range of psychological difficulties including depression, ADHD, learning difficulties and anxiety disorders. They aim to improve children's self-awareness, and emotional and social abilities." Job growth in this field is strong, "as recognition of the effectiveness of this method of treatment grows, schools, residential institutions, local service providers and counseling centers are hiring play therapists."
Christina Preininger has always known that she wanted to help others. She was raised to appreciate service work. Starting as a toddler and continuing into her teenage years, her father took her to a nursing home every Sunday to visit residents. She was a child of divorce, so she knew that she wanted to help others. During her high school years, she mentored under a family friend who was a play therapist. Through this process, she was able to attend different therapy-based conferences and sit in on the play therapy session. This experience cemented her passion for becoming a play therapist.
She graduated with a bachelor's degree in sociology, with a minor in psychology, from Texas A&M University in College Station, and is currently attending the University of Texas at Arlington to earn a master's degree in social work. Her goal is to be a play therapist.
"When children are in a stressful situation like a divorce or abusive home, they don't feel like they have control of their life. In the therapy room, the child gets to decide what toys they play with and who the therapist is in relation to playing. It is an enabling exercise that allows the child to feel that he/she has control of his/her life," said Preininger.
"Kids have a harder time connecting their emotions to words, so this is a great way to help them cope with their problems," said Preininger.
"A master's degree is a requirement in order for me to be licensed to help people at the level that I want to help them," said Preininger. When she decided to pursue a master's degree, she looked into what would give her the best career options. She considered a counseling degree or a social work degree. With a social work degree, she could expand her career to include administrative work within non-profit organizations, working for Child Protection Services and other options.
Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and enlighten others about culture. You can find her work at Examiner.com.