What Is Play Therapy & Why Does It Matter?
- Kirsten Jacobson
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
Understanding the Language of Children
When we hear the word "therapy," many of us imagine two adults in chairs, exchanging words about thoughts and feelings. But what happens when the person who needs therapy is a child—someone who doesn't yet have the words to explain what's going on inside?
This is where play therapy becomes incredibly powerful.
🌟 The Language of Play
Children don’t sit down and say, “I’m struggling with anxiety,” or “I feel powerless after the divorce.” Instead, they show us. They build it with blocks, draw it in pictures, or act it out with dolls and superhero figurines. Play is their natural language, and toys are their words.
Play therapy is a developmentally sensitive, evidence-based approach that uses play to help children express themselves, process emotions, and resolve conflicts—without having to rely on complex verbal language. It creates a safe and supportive environment where a child can make sense of their world through imagination, creativity, and symbolic play.
🧠 How Play Therapy Works
In a play therapy session, a child is invited into a specially designed room filled with carefully selected toys—each chosen for its potential to help express emotions, process trauma, or build skills. The therapist observes, listens, and sometimes participates in the play, using their training to understand what the play reveals about the child’s internal world.
The therapist may:
Reflect the child’s feelings back to them to help build emotional awareness
Set gentle boundaries to teach emotional regulation
Encourage the child to explore different roles, perspectives, and outcomes
Help the child create new, healthier narratives about their experiences
This process isn’t just about “playing”, it’s about healing.
💬 What Kinds of Issues Can Play Therapy Help With?
Play therapy can be used with children as young as 3 and is helpful for a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges, including:
Anxiety and worry
Aggression or anger outbursts
Grief and loss
Trauma and abuse
Divorce or separation
Social struggles
ADHD
Autism spectrum concerns
Attachment disruptions
School refusal or academic stress
It’s also used preventatively, to support emotional development and build resilience in children going through big life transitions.
❤️ The Healing Power of Relationship
At the core of play therapy is a relationship built on trust, empathy, and safety. The therapist provides a space where the child feels accepted and valued just as they are. This experience can be transformative, especially for children who have experienced chaos, fear, or emotional disconnection.
The child learns that:
Their feelings matter
They have the power to solve problems
Safe adults will support—not shame—their emotional world
🙋♀️ Is Play Therapy Right for My Child?
If your child is struggling emotionally or behaviorally and traditional discipline or conversation isn’t helping, play therapy may be the missing link. It doesn’t require your child to “open up” in the way adults do. Instead, it honors the way children naturally communicate and gives them the tools to grow from the inside out.
If you’ve ever seen your child play out a stressful day at school with stuffed animals, you’ve already witnessed the power of symbolic play. Imagine what could happen if that same power was guided by a skilled therapist trained to help them heal.
Ready to Learn More?
Our clinic specializes in trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate therapy for children and families. If you’re curious about play therapy or want to know if it’s a good fit for your child, we’d be honored to talk with you.
📞 Contact us today to schedule a free 15 min consultation to explore our services further.
Because every child deserves a safe space to grow, explore, and heal one playful moment at a time.
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