Play Therapy

What is play therapy?

Play therapy helps children express feelings and experiences through play in a safe, judgement-free environment. It is an evidence-based modality of child therapy and is a powerful tool for addressing cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges. Licensed mental health professionals use play therapeutically to help clients better process their experiences and develop more effective strategies for managing their worlds. Play is a holistic process that: builds trust, fosters learning and acceptable behaviors, regulates emotions, reduces anxieties, promotes creative thinking and problem-solving, encourages open communication, and elevates spirit and self-esteem (Association for Play Therapy, 2024).

“Play Therapy is based upon the fact that play is the child’s natural medium of self expression ... It is an opportunity which is given to the child to ‘play out’ his feelings and problems just as in certain types of adult therapy an individual ‘talks out’ his difficulties.”  Virginia Axline

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