[Tangerine87]

Did your t's ever bring out toys in therapy? Mine did that the other day and it seemed kind of weird but it was really helpful.

I'm just wondering is it common for adults?
I think very highly of my therapist. He helps me a lot.

[Love Your Suit]

Please elaborate on these toys. Like the Hulk action figure?

Because when you mix "Toys" and "Adults" my mind goes somewhere else.

[Tangerine87]

Like puppets as an example. I don't want to be too specific.

[unaluna]

We have a cast of characters at my sessions. Two sit in our chairs and look like they are starting without us!

[junkDNA]

my T has toys in his office. sometimes i just use them to play with while we talk.

[stopdog]

No. One of the reasons I went back to the first one I see for a second time is that there were no toys or stuffed animals or anything like that. The second one has an even sparser office.

[acceptance]

wow how playful !!!

My T. has nothing...blech..its pretty plain...but when i go in.i dont actually get a chance to really look at the room...i sit..he sits..and we start talkin !!! am looking at him the whole time...or outside the window !!! or at his pen when he is taking notes...or his shoe..or my shoe..
i should be more observant....but pretty sure no colorful toys that caught my eye...

[StressedMess]

Does a sand tray count? I've never touched it, my OCD cringes at the thought of one rock being a millimeter out of place, and the rake doesn't look like it would level very well.

Um, I'm not a very playful person if you all couldn't tell.

[JustShakey]

I used to meet with T in an office with lots of toys. I miss it. Part of me would love to get down on the floor and play with dolls while we talk I don't think I'd ever be brave enough to tell him that. I did tell him I missed the toys. He seemed surprised.

[musinglizzy]

knowing my T, I'm quite sure she would think I was regressing if I were to play with toys (or even hold a stuffed animal) in therapy.

[Crescent Moon]

For adults, I could understand having games. It would be a great way for a therapist to create an atmosphere more conducive to relaxing, and the talking you have to do to play a game could make it easier for someone who has a hard time talking to find it easier to talk. Or even start feeling like you're getting to know the therapist in a non-therapeutic sort of way where you're talking about a game instead of feelings and traumas.

But if I saw children's toys in a therapist's office, I'd assume they use them when they see kids.

[ragsnfeathers]

A therapist I had in the late 80's had some stuffed animals on her couch, I think for family therapy. We talked about them once. She told me about when a new client came in, threw them on the floor and sat down. The T told me that it was really difficult not to say, Please don't hurt their feelings like that! Me and T were a good fit.

[scorpiosis37]

No, one of the things I like about my T is that she does not have toys, bright colors, or knick knacks in her office. It's elegant and minimalist. The toy thing just isn't for me. I would find it patronizing. I prefer a straight forward adult conversation. But if it works for others, that's great.

[ragsnfeathers]

For me they work because a lot of therapy is about something deeper than words. Using words is definitely useful; it's how I do therapy and it's working, but a lot of times my T will ask me questions that I either I don't know the answer to, or feel like my immediate, first answer is surface. I welcome...more, I actively look for anything that can help me access the parts of me that aren't involved with my verbal brain. I haven't done anything with this T other than bring in a stuffed animal occasionally but with ex T I on occasion have brought in hand puppets and a soft ball. It didn't help but if I thought it would I'd try it again.

None of mine have and I don't think it would help me, but if it is helpful to you then use them.

my t has sand trays (one you can put water in if you want wet sand, one dry) along with shelves and shelves full of miniatures to create scenes with. I loved doing sand trays when I still saw her in person. So much so that I made my own at home after she moved. I wish I had even a fourth of the miniatures that she has lol.

[pbutton]

My T does play therapy and sand tray therapy. He's got tons of toys. I always enjoy looking at everything but I haven't ever touched any of it.

[brillskep]

It's common for certain therapy orientations. My therapist has a huge collection of toys which he uses for symbolic work, both to access unconscious material and to make the work less threatening than a direct dialogue about very deep issues. I have a collection of toys too. My colleague who has trained in psychodrama has even more toys - she has larger stuffed toys all over her office. For me the type of symbolic work my therapist does is quite useful, though lately I've been needing to work more directly than symbolically. But I think it can be a sensitive thing, since certain adults may take it as not being taken seriously or being treated like children instead of adults. I think every person can have a different experience, but if you benefit from this type of work, why not?

No toys in T's office, I don't think it would be helpful for me at all. If words are not enough, then nothing else can possibly help. (That is of course only my personal point of view. If something is helpful for you, then it is helpful.)

[iheartjacques]

There's only a small box of toys for kids under a chair. I just sit in my chair and fidget.

I've managed this far without toys in therapy.

It wouldn't be my thing, but I can see where it could be helpful to some.

[ThisWayOut]

My T does. We have not used them, but I would be ok with it. Her agency works with kids a lot, so every clinician has toys and art supplies (as far as I can tell). We have busted out the crayons though, and talked a bit about one of the stuffed toys she has in her office.
I like the idea because words often fail me. The toys, games, and art stuff give me a way to break out of a freeze response. It also helps me get past not having words for a lot fo stuff. There's a sense of comfort in a way (though I can't figure out exactly why). We did talk about it last session though, at least in the sense of explaining that my wife and I are still very much in touch with our "kid" side, and we love spending time with kids.

[Irrelevant221]

My T has a ball that she bought for me since she knows I like to fidget. Although, come to think of it, I haven't seen it since I threw it at her once... Oh well.

I was disappointed to notice a few stuffed animals on a shelf in my therapist's office. I hope they are from clients and not for them.