Play Therapy

Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate form of counseling for children that uses play as a medium for expression, exploration, and healing. Through play, children can process emotions, build problem-solving skills, and develop healthier behaviors.

What is Play Therapy?

Children often express themselves more naturally through play than words. In a safe and supportive space, a trained play therapist observes and engages with the child through toys, art, storytelling, and games to understand their inner world and support emotional regulation and coping skills

The Association for Play Therapy defines play therapy as the “systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.”

What does Play Therapy help?

• Anxiety

  • Play therapy helps children express and process their fears in a safe, non-threatening way.

  • Through symbolic play, children can work through situations that make them anxious, learning coping skills and strategies to manage stress.

  • Play therapy helps children develop emotional resilience by allowing them to confront their fears in a supportive environment.

• Depression

  • Play therapy provides an outlet for children to express feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or isolation.

  • Through play, children can explore their emotions and build a sense of mastery over difficult feelings.

  • Play therapy helps children regain confidence and a sense of joy by re-engaging with the world around them.

• ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

  • Play therapy provides structured yet flexible activities that engage children with ADHD and help them focus their attention.

  • Therapists use play to develop impulse control, emotional regulation, and social skills.

  • Children can explore their behaviors and practice appropriate responses in a non-judgmental space.

• Trauma

  • Play therapy helps children process and make sense of traumatic experiences by allowing them to express their emotions indirectly through play.

  • Techniques like sand tray therapy or role-playing can help children reframe traumatic memories and reduce the emotional charge associated with them.

  • Play therapy builds emotional safety and trust, allowing children to heal at their own pace.

• Grief

  • Play therapy provides a safe space for children to express the pain and confusion that can accompany loss.

  • Through symbolic play, children can work through their grief and begin to understand and cope with the emotional complexity of loss.

  • Play therapy helps children express feelings that they may not yet have the words for, and it can guide them toward acceptance and healing.

• Behavioral Issues

  • Play therapy addresses disruptive behaviors by helping children express their needs and frustrations in appropriate ways.

  • Therapists use play-based interventions to teach problem-solving skills, impulse control, and emotional expression.

  • Play therapy fosters self-awareness, allowing children to recognize patterns in their behavior and work toward positive changes.

• Family Changes (like Divorce or Adoption)

  • Play therapy helps children cope with significant family changes, such as divorce, adoption, or moving to a new home.

  • Through play, children can process feelings of confusion, anger, sadness, or fear that arise from these transitions.

  • Play therapy promotes healthy attachment and emotional understanding, helping children adapt to new family dynamics and roles.

• Social Difficulties

  • Play therapy helps children develop social skills by providing opportunities to practice interacting with peers or adults in a safe, controlled environment.

  • Role-playing and cooperative games can help children learn to share, take turns, express their feelings, and manage conflicts.

  • Play therapy supports the development of empathy, self-confidence, and appropriate social behaviors in challenging social situations.

• Self-Esteem and Confidence Issues

  • Through creative expression, children can explore their strengths and begin to build a sense of self-worth.

  • Play therapy encourages children to take risks in a safe space, which fosters confidence in their abilities.

  • It helps children overcome feelings of inadequacy or negative self-image by providing opportunities for success and positive reinforcement.

Play therapy aims to help a child’s growth and development. The practice of play therapy requires extensive, specialized education, training, and experience. With my knowledge and background, I am confident that you and I can set your child up for success.

If you’re interested in learning more about play therapy and how it can help your child grow, contact me today for a free consultation.