Introduction

At Emocare – Counselling & Life Coaching, Play Therapy integrates Motivational Interviewing (MI) to support children’s emotional, social, and behavioural development. MI techniques help children express themselves safely and explore choices while building intrinsic motivation for positive change.

Top 10 Techniques

• Reflective Listening: Mirror children’s statements to validate feelings.
• Open-Ended Questions: Encourage exploration and self-expression.
• Affirmation: Reinforce positive behaviors and effort.
• Summarizing: Help children integrate thoughts and feelings.
• Scaling Questions: Use visual scales to assess emotions and motivation.
• Evoking Change Talk: Guide children to articulate desired behavior changes.
• Collaborative Goal Setting: Co-create small achievable goals during play.
• Metaphor & Storytelling: Use stories to illustrate behavioral choices.
• Role Play: Practice coping skills and decision-making in safe scenarios.
• Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate small successes to encourage continued effort.

Why Integrate MI in Play Therapy?

Using MI in Play Therapy provides a structured, empathetic, and motivational framework. Benefits include:

• Increased child engagement and participation
• Stronger self-confidence and autonomy
• Improved coping strategies for stress or behavioral challenges
• Enhanced collaboration between therapist and child
• Support for long-term positive behavior change

About Emocare – Counselling & Life Coaching

• 20+ years of experience in counseling and psychotherapy
• 3,500+ positive reviews from clients
• Certified Play Therapy and MI practitioners
• Chennai-based clinic & online worldwide services
• Evidence-based techniques for child emotional wellness