How Play Therapy Benefits Your Child's Emotional Well-Being

Child therapists and parents are eager to utilize mental health services for children who are struggling with anxiety, depression, social and interpersonal skills, self-esteem, trauma, and major life stressors.

Many turn to behavioral and cognitive-behavioral treatment modalities for children, as they are familiar models that are typically recommended and utilized by many therapists and school counselors. However, we know that young children, developmentally, often struggle with sitting on a couch to verbally identify their feelings, share, and understand higher levels of cognitive interventions.

In interviewing Isabel Palmer, AMFT, at Aspiring Families, a Center for Mental Health and Wellness, about the efficacy of play therapy instead of traditional talk therapy, she immediately quoted: “Toys are children’s words and play is their language” (Landreth, G. L., 2002).

What Is Play Therapy?

In exploring play therapy further, Ms. Palmer shared that play therapy is a developmentally appropriate approach that allows children to express emotions, process life experiences, and build psychological resilience. Play is a child’s natural medium of expression, communication, and learning. It becomes a therapeutic tool to help children resolve challenges symbolically.

In essence, by using puppets, storybooks, pictures, figurines, animals, and other play therapy tools, the therapist joins the child through play and imagination to understand and process their emotions. Hence, play therapy can be an effective therapeutic tool to help young children with emotional and cognitive processing during periods of stress, changes, or loss.

It is important for us as therapists, parents, and counselors to remember that even though children are resilient and adaptive, they often lack the cognitive maturity needed to process the complex emotions they go through during periods of stress. Children aren’t always able to cognitively grasp the emotional and structural changes that accompany stress.

Why Use Play in Therapy?

Ms. Palmer emphasizes that this is where play therapy helps. It is an effective tool to help young children with emotional and cognitive processing. Play therapy aids children in resolving challenges through symbolic, developmentally appropriate play and fosters growth.

Ms. Palmer highlights that, unlike regular play, play therapy is guided by a professional with specific therapeutic goals. It supports emotional regulation, confidence, and healing from trauma, anxiety, or behavioral struggles. Play allows children to make sense of their world and express what they can’t say verbally. In a therapeutic setting, it helps a child:

• Release and regulate emotions
• Rehearse real-life situations in a symbolic way
• Practice decision-making, problem-solving, and self-expression
• Strengthen social understanding and adaptability

How Is Play Therapy Different From Play at Home?

Home play is important for connection and creativity, but play therapy is quietly goal-directed and guided by a trained professional. As outlined by Ms. Palmer, the therapist uses clinical insight and techniques to help the child:

• Express and process emotional pain
• Build emotional regulation and resilience
• Improve behavior, confidence, and relationships

What Is the Goal of Play Therapy?

• Play therapy allows children to learn new coping mechanisms so they can deal with their problems and unresolved trauma in healthy ways.

• The goal of play therapy is to work with children on complicated issues without overwhelming them in the process.

• The outcome of play therapy is to indirectly process their emotions and thoughts utilizing symbolic play and fantasy.

Ms. Palmer explains how therapy goals are customized for each child to achieve common outcomes, including:

• Improved emotional regulation
• Higher self-esteem and confidence
• Processing grief, trauma, or major changes
• Better communication and social skills
• Coping strategies for anxiety and frustration

Is Play Therapy Right for Your Child?

Play therapy is effective for a wide range of challenges, including:

• Anxiety
• Sadness or depression
• Divorce, grief/loss, or life transitions
• Peer and other social challenges
• ADHD
• Autism
• Sensory processing issues
• Anger, emotional outbursts, and poor emotional regulation
• Self-esteem

Why Play Works

Play is the most natural way for children to process complex thoughts and feelings. It:

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• Encourages emotional release without pressure
• Builds self-awareness and confidence
• Allows reworking of stressful experiences in symbolic form

According to Ms. Palmer, research shows that therapeutic play engages brain systems responsible for emotional regulation, problem-solving, and social connection, making it a powerful method for emotional development (Siviy, 2016).

Your Role as a Parent

Parents are a vital part of the process, says Ms. Palmer. As a caregiver, you will:

• Participate in regular progress check-ins
• Support therapeutic goals at home
• Learn strategies that reinforce growth
• Learn to observe and play with your child

This collaboration ensures therapy is effective both in and out of the session.

Benefits of Play Therapy

Ms. Palmer outlines how play therapy offers numerous benefits that support a child’s emotional and social development:

• By engaging in therapeutic play, children learn essential skills and strategies that promote coping, well-being, and healthier relationships.

• Processing emotions: Play therapy provides children with a safe space to articulate and understand their emotions, even when they can’t yet put them into words.

• Better self-esteem: Through positive reinforcement and successful problem-solving during play, children build confidence in their abilities and sense of self-worth.

• Anxiety management: Play therapy equips children with calming techniques and coping strategies and reduces feelings of fear, worry, and stress in challenging situations.

• Social skills: By engaging in role-playing and collaborative activities, children learn how to communicate effectively, share, and navigate social interactions.

• Empathy: Children develop a greater understanding of others’ perspectives and feelings through imaginative and interactive play scenarios.

Conclusion

Play therapy is a gentle, developmentally appropriate way for children to explore their feelings, work through challenges, and build resilience. If you have young children who are struggling with transitions, loss, grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges, it might be beneficial to explore seeking guidance and support from a play therapist.

To find a therapist, please visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.