What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy refers to a large number of treatment methods, all applying the therapeutic benefits of play. Play therapy helps children to address and resolve their own problems and builds on the natural way that children learn about themselves and their relationships in the world around them.

The Association for Play Therapy defines play therapy as the “systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.”

What does Play Therapy help?

Play therapy is a powerful and effective approach used to help children express themselves, process emotions, and work through challenges in a developmentally appropriate way. 

Because children often lack the verbal skills to fully articulate their thoughts and feelings, play becomes their natural language—and a skilled therapist can use it to gain insight into a child’s inner world. 

Play therapy helps children:

• Become more responsible for their behaviors and develop more successful strategies
• Develop new and creative solutions to problems
• Develop respect and acceptance of self and others
• Learn to experience and express emotion
• Cultivate empathy and respect for the thoughts and feelings of others
• Learn new social skills and relational skills with family
• Develop self-efficacy and a better assuredness about their abilities