What is Play Therapy

Play Therapy is specialized counseling uniquely and specifically suited for children generally between the ages of 3-14.

We start with the understanding that children’s thinking is still developing. Developmental psychologist Jean Piaget described how children have not yet developed the cognitive skills for abstract reasoning. Children don't understand concepts like cause and effect, and the consequences of their behaviors. Children are almost exclusively operating out of their emotions, not the reasoning part of their brains, because that hasn't developed yet. Children learn by doing and experiencing. They can have big feelings without knowing how to explain them.

Most adults’ concept of therapy is sitting on a couch and talking through issues. But we cannot simply take an adult approach to therapy and expect it to fit a child’s stage of development. Asking children to explain why they feel or behave a certain way requires thinking skills their brains are still developing. Play Therapy gives children a way to express and work through their experiences without having to explain everything in words.

Children work through issues by playing them out. They don’t have to talk everything out to make progress.

If you’ve ever sat and carefully watched your child play, you’ve probably noticed that the themes, scenarios, and topics of their play often connects to something going on in their lives. They are trying to make sense of things by playing out the scenarios.

In Play Therapy, a trained therapist brings clinical understanding and a therapeutic purpose to that process. Some play therapists follow the child’s lead, while others guide activities or combine play with conversation and skill-building. The methods differ, but play is central to the treatment.

Play Therapy is uniquely suited to helping children work through today's most common challenges, including emotional struggles, behavioral difficulties, low self-esteem, and anxiety. Through play and the therapeutic relationship, children develop ways to express their feelings, handle challenges, and build confidence.

Play Therapy can also help children facing more complex challenges, including trauma, abuse, neglect, significant loss, attachment and relationship difficulties, emotional challenges related to foster care or adoption, and serious illness or distressing medical experiences. Play therapists also support neurodivergent children and their individual communication, sensory, and emotional needs. For these concerns, look for a play therapist with specific training and experience in your child’s needs.

So when looking for professional help for your child, seek out a child therapist with specific training in Play Therapy.