Play therapy is a form of therapy specifically designed to help children express their feelings, navigate emotional challenges, and improve their behavioral and mental health through play. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which can be difficult for children who may not yet have the language to express their emotions, play therapy allows children to communicate in a natural and familiar way—through play.

How Does Play Therapy Work?

In a typical play therapy session, a child is provided with toys, games, and creative tools that encourage expression. Trained play therapists guide the session, observing the child’s play to understand their emotions, behaviors, and thought processes.

Through this process, children can work through feelings of fear, anxiety, anger, or sadness in a non-threatening environment.

Therapists use techniques like role-playing, storytelling, art, and sand tray therapy to help children externalize and process their emotions. These activities give children the freedom to act out their worries or experiences, while the therapist helps them make sense of their feelings.