If your child has ever come out of a therapy session and said that they were just playing with toys, drawing, or pretending, you might find yourself wondering: 

“Wait… is this therapy? Aren’t they supposed to be talking about their problems?” 

It’s a common and completely understandable question. When we think of therapy, we often picture two people sitting in a room, talking through emotions and challenges. So when a child comes home saying they played, colored, or made-up stories, it’s natural to question how that fits into the healing process. 

But here’s the truth: for children, especially younger ones, therapy often looks different. And that’s not just okay; it’s a good thing.  

Play therapy is one of the most effective ways to connect with children, support their emotional growth and healing, and help them reach their therapeutic goals. 

The Language of Children Is Play 

Imagine asking a nine-year-old to sit on a couch and say, “I think I’m struggling with grief after my grandparent died. I need coping skills.”  

It sounds unrealistic — and that’s because it is. Most children don’t have the vocabulary to express complex emotions like grief, anxiety, or fear. On top of that, they may feel uncomfortable opening up to someone they don’t yet know or fully trust. 

This is where play becomes a powerful tool. 

Children often feel more at ease when they’re engaged in a familiar activity like playing with toys, building with blocks, or participating in a game. In these moments, they naturally start to talk, sharing their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without the pressure of a direct conversation. 

As with all forms of therapy, the relationship is key. A child is much more likely to engage and make meaningful progress when they feel safe and connected to their therapist. Play often serves as the bridge that helps build that essential connection. 

How Play Therapy Works 

In a therapeutic playroom, everything is intentional, from the selection of toys to the types of games introduced during sessions. These carefully chosen tools allow children to express what they’re experiencing internally, often without even realizing they’re sharing vulnerable thoughts and feelings.  

Over time, play becomes the medium through which emotions are expressed, relationships are built, and coping skills are developed. 

Intentional Tailoring of Play to Therapeutic Goals 

Skilled play therapists use play with clear intention. While it may look like simple fun and games from the outside, every activity is carefully designed to target specific emotional, behavioral, or relational goals. 

Here are a few common therapeutic techniques used in play therapy: 

Painting Emotions 

For children who struggle to put their feelings into words, painting can be a powerful outlet. A therapist might say, “Can you paint what your day felt like?” This encourages children to express emotional experiences visually when verbal expression feels difficult. 

Puppet Play 

Puppets offer a safe and playful way for children to reenact upsetting situations, like a fight with a sibling or a conflict at school. Therapists guide both the puppet and the child through healthier responses, helping the child learn and practice coping skills in an engaging and non-threatening way. 

Games with a Purpose 

Games like UNO™ aren’t just for fun family nights; they can also serve as therapeutic tools. For example, a therapist might assign an emotion to each color in UNO™ and ask the child to share a time they felt that emotion when playing a card. This transforms a simple game into an exercise in emotional literacy. 

Emotion Coaching During Game Play 

Moments of frustration during games provide valuable opportunities for teaching emotional regulation. Imagine a child playing Operation^® who accidentally hits the metal walls, causing the buzzer to ring. The child may become frustrated, creating an opportunity for the therapist to help them name their feelings (“It looks like you’re feeling really frustrated right now”) and model healthy ways to manage emotions, like anger and disappointment.  

Sand Tray Therapy 

In Sand Tray Therapy, children are given a variety of characters, animals, houses, and other figurines to choose from as they are invited to create scenes or “worlds” in a tray of sand. These figurines are often symbolic and can provide therapists valuable insight into a child’s inner world by highlighting themes such as loss, inner turmoil, and family dynamics.  

This symbolic play allows children to process difficult experiences and emotions from a safe distance, especially when talking directly about these issues feels too overwhelming. 

For example, a child might place a broken doll figure inside a toy house with the door closed and surrounded by guards. These protective structures often hint at the child’s need to feel secure during overwhelming or unsafe circumstances, providing a pathway for the therapist to explore those feelings further. 

Therapeutic Storytelling 

In therapeutic storytelling, the therapist shares a story about a character facing a challenge similar to what the child may be experiencing. Together, the child and therapist create a new ending where the character successfully navigates the problem. 

This process allows the child to explore their own situation from a safe distance and gain a sense of control and hope through the story’s resolution. 

Why Play Therapy Works 

Play therapy is more than just play, it’s an evidence-based approach grounded in decades of research. Studies have shown that play therapy can be effective in addressing a variety of childhood challenges, including: 

• Anxiety 

• Grief and loss 

• Trauma and abuse 

• Behavioral challenges 

• ADHD 

• Divorce or family separation 

• Social difficulties 

According to the Association for Play Therapy, positive outcomes of play therapy often include improved emotional expression, enhanced social skills, better coping strategies, and a reduction in behavioral issues. 

So, the next time your child comes home talking about Uno, painting, or puppets, remember that healing is happening one game, one brushstroke, and one pretend-play session at a time. 

Disclaimer: 

The content provided on this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as or be a substitute for professional medical and mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician, therapist, counselor, or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or mental health concern. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please contact a healthcare provider, call 911, or reach out to a crisis hotline immediately. Please call 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and speak with a trained crisis specialist 24/7. 

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