By: Brittany Kochajda, MSW, LMSW

As a child and family therapist, I’m often asked questions like:

• “Is my child just coming to therapy to play?”
• “How is playing going to help?”
• “What makes play therapy different from regular play?”

These are excellent questions—and in this article, I’ll explain the role of play therapy and why it can be so effective in supporting children’s emotional and behavioral growth.

What Is Play Therapy?

Play therapy dates back to the 1920s, when Hermine Hug-Hellmuth first observed that children naturally process emotions through play. Today, play therapy is recognized as a powerful, evidence-based approach that allows children to express themselves in a developmentally appropriate way—especially when they may not yet have the words to describe what they’re feeling.

Play therapists use structured, child-centered techniques to help children explore thoughts and emotions, develop problem-solving skills, and work through behavioral challenges. Tools and methods may include:

• Games
• Books
• Art
• Sandtray
• Puppets and figurines
• Playroom-based interactions

Each session is tailored to the child’s unique needs and developmental level.

How Is Play Therapy Different from Regular Play?

According to the Association for Play Therapy, the key difference lies in intention and structure:

• Regular play is unstructured and focused on entertainment.
• Play therapy is guided by a trained therapist and designed to help children build self-awareness, process complex emotions, and practice new behaviors in a safe environment.

Play therapy creates psychological distance that helps children explore difficult feelings safely. It can lead to improved communication, emotional regulation, and healthier relationships.

Benefits of Play Therapy

The Association for Play Therapy outlines several key benefits:

• Increased responsibility for actions and better decision-making
• Improved problem-solving and creativity
• Enhanced empathy and respect for others
• Healthier expression of emotion
• Stronger social and relational skills
• Greater self-confidence and self-efficacy

Try Simple Play Therapy Techniques at Home

If you’re interested in bringing some of the benefits of play therapy into your daily routine, here are a few techniques from Goodyear-Brown (2019) to try at home:

• Heartbeat Awareness: Encourage your child to jump up and down, then use a toy stethoscope to listen to their heartbeat. This builds awareness of their body’s response to activity and emotion.
• Bubble Tension Release: Blow bubbles upward and have your child scrunch their face tightly as the bubbles float up. When the bubbles fall, guide them to slowly release the tension. This exercise promotes emotional regulation and relaxation.
• Peacock Feather Focus: Have your child balance a peacock feather on their finger while focusing on the tip. This builds mindfulness and concentration.

When to Consider Play Therapy

If your child is struggling socially, emotionally, or behaviorally—or if traditional talk therapy hasn’t been effective—play therapy could be a great alternative. As Goodyear-Brown writes:

“When therapy appears to be stalled… the play therapist’s palette can offer alternatives to approach difficult content and can ultimately jump-start the treatment process.”

If  you feel like you or somebody you care about is in need of additional support, CFSC is here for you. Please call us at 248-851-5437 to get started with supportive services.