What Is Play Therapy For Children, And What Does A Play Therapist Do?

Play therapy is an evidence-based treatment that has proven effective for people of all ages. Most commonly, play therapy is used for children ages three to 12, but therapists have also used it successfully for younger children, adolescents, and adults. Play therapy can be provided in many settings, including a therapist's office, a child's home, a school, or a hospital. Therapists may use it as a stand-alone therapy or in conjunction with other therapies as part of an overall treatment plan.

Children, depending on their age, often haven't reached a developmental level where they have the words to express their emotions adequately, so they communicate through the language of play. Playfulness can benefit all relationships and impact how children interact with others when they become adults in relationships or at work.

What is play therapy, and why is it therapeutic?

Play has been regarded as an essential component of human development for years. Greek philosopher Plato said, "You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation." Based on such ideas, play therapy was officially introduced as a form of therapeutic mental health treatment in the 1950s. 

The therapeutic powers of play

Play therapy capitalizes on a child's need to explore and play to help them make sense of the world around them. To the untrained eye, play therapy can look like regular playtime. A child might be given toys, dolls, pens and pencils, and any other object through which the therapist can observe and interact with them to gain insight on any psychological issues or inappropriate behaviors that may be going on.

Play therapy sessions

Play therapy appointments often run about 30 to 60 minutes in length, and sessions may be held weekly. The number of sessions used may depend on the child or client's needs. 

What are the benefits of play therapy?

Play therapy can be enjoyable. For clients of any age, play therapy may relieve stress and boredom and stimulate creativity. Play helps children learn how to talk to others, express themselves, become more self-aware, and begin to get to know who they are as people in a safe and fun environment. 

Having relationships with others may require being able to bond, connect, and control one's emotions. Play therapy helps promote learning and fosters psychological and social development for children and young people. Therapeutic exercises help children modify their behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and explore ways to communicate and relate to those they love. Play therapy is a non-invasive way to instill confidence in a child and give them a forum for practicing the skills they need to develop healthy, loving relationships.

Other benefits of play therapy

• Fostering empathy and respect for others
• Self-respect
• Strengthening family relationships
• Coping with significant life events or changes

Why do therapists use play therapy for children?

Therapists who accept adult clients can ask them direct questions about what's troubling them, how they feel about it, and how their problems affect their relationships, work, and other areas of their lives. With children, teens, or adults without extensive communication skills, therapists can use other methods to help them express their thoughts and feelings.

A play therapist uses tools to understand a child

Play therapy allows therapists the tools to assess and understand a child's innermost thoughts and feelings. In understanding what children are thinking and what led them to those thought processes, therapists can help children learn to adapt their behavior and teach them better social and emotional skill sets and how to put them to appropriate use.

Play therapists develop positive relationships with children

During play therapy, children can develop positive relationships with the therapist. This relationship forms the basis for a corrective emotional experience that might be needed for the child to heal. Through play exercises, therapists can learn about the child's inner conflicts and why they may experience dysfunctional thinking. Children can explore complex problems from a safe distance by engaging in playtime. 

What child-related challenges can play therapy address? 

Therapists can successfully use play therapy in various ways and for various mental health conditions without subjecting children to harm. The following are some of the conditions that therapists may consider using play therapy for:

• Anxiety
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) 

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources.

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Grief 
• Depressive disorders 
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) 
• Anger challenges
• Divorce and family dissolution
• Academic development and learning disabilities
• Social development
• Physical disabilities
• Chronic illness
• Bonding and attachment

How do children demonstrate improvement after play therapy?

The effects of play therapy can be dramatic for many children. Throughout treatment, children may learn to feel responsible for their behaviors as they become better able to develop new and creative solutions to their problems.

With the aid of play therapy, children can learn to experience situations and express their emotions appropriately. They can also begin demonstrating empathy and respect for the thoughts and feelings of their parents, siblings, friends, teachers, and extended families. Children may demonstrate progress when they deeply respect and accept themselves and others.

By the end of treatment, children often demonstrate age-appropriate social skills and improved relationships with their family. In addition, many clients may have increased confidence in knowing their words and actions can produce successful and meaningful outcomes.

Play therapy and family: Is the family involved in play therapy?

When a child is experiencing emotional or behaviorally charged situations, the interactions between the child and family can be stressful. A child experiencing behavioral challenges may indicate family conflict or dysfunction. Family may also not know how to react or support their child. 

Family participation in the healing process of the child

Play therapy can become a vehicle where the whole family participates in the child's healing process. All children and families may feel heard and appreciated when they work together. According to APT, children gain the most from play therapy when a parent actively participates in the child's treatment.

Play therapy is designed so the child and caregiver can participate in the exercises during the therapy appointment and bring what they learned home and practice it there. Whole family therapy provides a way for children to learn how to modify their interactions with their parents and siblings. In doing so, the entire household can feel like part of the child's growth. 

The play therapist may decide who would benefit from participating in the treatment plan. Even if they are not included in sessions, parents or caregivers may communicate with the therapist regularly to resolve any problems that may arise and monitor the child's progress.

How to become qualified to work as a play therapist

Play therapy is a specialized field of psychology. To work as a certified play therapist, it's necessary to be a licensed mental health professional with a master's or doctorate in the mental health field. Play therapists have extensive general clinical experience and supervision hours. Play therapists may also become certified with the following credentials through the Association for Play Therapy after meeting standard licensure requirements: 

• Registered play therapist (RPT)
• Registered play therapist-supervisor (RPT-S)
• School based-registered play therapist (SB-RPT)

Sunshine Circles for educators and play therapists

The Theraplay Institute provides training in play therapy for therapists and educators with a program called Sunshine Circles. Educators, social workers, and therapists may learn how to introduce evidence-based social-emotional development programs into the school.

With Sunshine Circles, adults direct and structure activities for school-aged children that are cooperative and nurturing. The activities are often 100% interactive and help create a caring, accepting, and supportive atmosphere.

Through the Sunshine Circles, children learn to respect and obey the following three rules to carry them throughout their days:

1. No hurts.
2. Stick together.
3. Have fun!

Sunshine Circles can dramatically change the school environment and the quality of classrooms by giving teachers the tools to ensure an emotionally positive and cognitively enriched learning environment.

Counseling for stress or other mental health concerns

Many families may experience stress or mental health challenges when their child requires support. It can cause stress for parents in a committed relationship, as well. If you're an adult looking for guidance as your child goes through play therapy, individual or couples therapy online or in person may benefit you. 

Online therapy for stress or mental health challenges

Online couples therapy can be especially effective for parents with busy schedules, as it allows you to set appointments outside of standard business hours and receive support with daily parenting tasks over the phone, via video, or through live chat sessions. In addition, you can specify what type of therapist you'd like to speak to upon signing up to get matched with someone who fully meets your needs. Studies have also found that online couples therapy is often preferable to couples over in-person therapy due to its personal nature and comforting environment. 

BetterHelp and Regain

If you want to try online therapy, consider signing up with a platform like BetterHelp for individuals or Regain for couples. Both platforms offer thousands of licensed therapists, social workers, and counselors with experience in various specialties, including parenting and childcare.