​Play therapy is a therapeutic approach primarily used with children to help them express their emotions, thoughts, and experiences in a way that feels natural to them—through play. Since children may struggle to articulate their feelings verbally, play therapy offers a non-threatening and familiar medium for them to process and communicate their inner worlds. In a play therapy session, a therapist uses toys, games, and creative activities to observe and engage with the child. These tools allow the child to express themselves in a safe environment, while the therapist can address emotional or behavioural challenges. Play therapy is commonly used to help children cope with issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression, family disruptions, and behavioural problems.

 

Two key types of play therapy are; nondirective play therapy, where the child leads the session, and directive play therapy, where the therapist introduces specific activities to guide the session. Both approaches aim to help the child process emotions, build problem-solving skills, and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

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It can help children/teens with the following struggles:

• anxiety and depression

• trauma and PTSD

• behavioural issues

• attachment disorders

• grief and loss

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• ADHD

• social skills and relationships