What is Play Therapy?

When a child is struggling—whether with anxiety, grief, trauma, behavioral challenges, or big life transitions—adults often wonder: How can I help them make sense of what they’re feeling? 

While adults tend to use words to process their experiences, children communicate in a different language: the language of play.

That’s where play therapy comes in.

What Is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate, evidence-based approach to supporting children’s emotional, social, and psychological growth. It gives children a safe space to express themselves through toys, art, games, storytelling, and imaginative play—activities that feel familiar and natural to them.

In the words of pioneering therapist Dr. Garry Landreth, “Toys are children’s words, and play is their language.” In play therapy, children are free to explore their thoughts and feelings at their own pace, using metaphor, imagination, and creativity.

How Does It Work?

A trained play therapist creates a supportive environment where children feel safe and accepted. Within this space, play becomes a window into the child’s inner world. Through consistent sessions, children are able to:

• Express and process difficult emotions (such as fear, anger, confusion, or sadness)
• Develop problem-solving and emotional regulation skills
• Build confidence and a stronger sense of self
• Rehearse new behaviors or try out different roles in a safe, contained space
• Repair attachment wounds through a nurturing therapeutic relationship

Play therapy can be structured (using specific therapeutic interventions) or non-directive (allowing the child to guide the play), depending on the child’s age, needs, and presenting concerns.

Who Is It For?

Play therapy is most often used with children between the ages of 3 and 12, though it can be adapted for older children and teens using expressive arts, sand tray, or narrative techniques. It can be especially helpful for children experiencing:

• Anxiety or depression
• Grief or loss
• Family changes such as divorce or relocation
• Trauma or abuse
• Behavioral issues or aggression
• Social difficulties or low self-esteem
• Neurodivergence, including Autism and ADHD

It can also be a supportive tool for children who struggle to verbalize what they’re going through.

The Role of the Therapist

Play therapists are mental health professionals trained in child development, attachment, and therapeutic play techniques. They carefully observe and engage with the child’s play themes, offering attuned responses that help the child feel seen, understood, and emotionally regulated. The therapist may also involve parents or caregivers in the process through regular check-ins or parent-child sessions, helping strengthen the child’s support system outside of therapy.

Why It Matters

Play therapy helps children make sense of their experiences in ways that words alone cannot. It taps into the child’s innate capacity to heal, learn, and grow—providing not just relief from distress, but opportunities for deeper self-understanding and resilience.

Final Thoughts

If your child is showing signs of emotional or behavioral distress—or simply seems overwhelmed by life changes—play therapy may be a powerful and gentle way to support them. 

It’s not about fixing the child; it’s about meeting them where they are and helping them feel safe enough to grow.

Play isn’t just how children pass time—it’s how they process the world. And in the hands of a skilled therapist, play becomes a pathway to healing.

References
Landreth, G. L. (2012). Play therapy: The art of the relationship (3rd ed.). Routledge.

Bratton, S. C., Ray, D. C., Rhine, T., & Jones, L. (2021). The efficacy of play therapy with children: A meta-analytic review of treatment outcomes. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 52(3), 217–226.