What Is Play Therapy – and Why Does It Work?

Play Therapy is a type of specialized counseling uniquely and specifically suited for children. In childhood, kids have not developed abstract cognitive reasoning skills, and instead, operate from their natural emotional responses. This means that traditional "talk therapy" is not an effective therapeutic approach for children. Instead, we can use play therapy which allows children to show us their experiences using the most natural communication skill they have - play.  

During childhood, the process of building complex cognitive skills needed for effective communication and interpersonal skills occurs. This means that children cannot yet fully understand concepts like cause and effect, or the consequences of behaviors. Children are almost exclusively operating out of the emotional part of their brains. The frontal lobe of the brain is the last area of brain development to occur and is responsible for judgment, social skills, emotional regulation, motor tasks, and understanding language. The brain will continue to develop well into young adulthood. Understanding and accommodating a child’s developmental process through play and creative activities allows adults to interact with children in effective and meaningful ways.

Children "work through issues" by playing their issues out, not talking them out. If you have watched a child play,  you may notice that themes, scenarios, and topics of their play are usually based on something that is going on in their lives. Children make sense of their world by imagining scenarios and  recreating experiences they see in their lives. We cannot expect children to understand adult concepts like trauma, relationships, stress or life transitions. 

The role of the play therapist is to create a safe relationship in which the child feels seen, heard, understood, and unconditionally accepted. The play therapist acts as a guardrail by reflecting the child’s feelings, giving choices, setting limits when appropriate, returning responsibility, and encouraging. Through using these skills, the play therapist observes the child’s improving ability to articulate their feelings, and improve self-regulation. Often, the child begins taking personal responsibility, and gaining confidence in expressing their feelings. Parents often notice that outbursts lessen in frequency and intensity, the child has fewer conflicts, and the child seems happier.

Play therapy is the most effective approach to counseling children because it recognizes and respects where children are developmentally,  emotionally and cognitively. Play therapy provides children with a gentle and effective path to heal, grow, and thrive.