Imagine this: your child is engaged in a make-believe battle, complete with roaring dinosaurs and epic explosions. To you, it may look like ordinary fun (or a playroom tornado). To a trained play therapist, it’s a symphony of healing and growth. Welcome to the magic of play therapy, where children process emotions, build skills, and rewrite their inner stories—all through the language of play.
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is not just about toys and giggles (although there’s plenty of that, too). It’s a developmentally appropriate, evidence-based approach that helps children work through big feelings, trauma, neurodivergence-related challenges, or behavioral concerns. Why? Children’s emotional and creative centers develop faster than the verbal skills in their brains.
Play is their language. It is how they process their world, express themselves, learn, and problem-solve.
A Play Therapist Sees the Bigger Picture
While your child is stacking blocks or staging puppet shows, a play therapist sees something deeper:
Problem-solving and frustration tolerance
Creativity and impulse control
Emotional regulation and co-regulation
Flexibility in thought and decision-making
For neurodivergent children, including those with ADHD and autism, these areas of development can present unique challenges. Play therapy provides a safe, structured space where they can explore emotions, develop coping strategies, and practice essential social and executive functioning skills—all at their own pace and naturally.
Common Play Themes and Their Messages
In play therapy, children communicate through the stories and roles they create.
Here are some common themes and what they might mean:
Aggression: A child wielding a toy sword or crashing cars might seem wild, but they’re actually working through feelings of hypervigilance, impulsivity, or fear. For kids with ADHD, this may be a way to release pent-up energy, while autistic children may use it to explore emotional regulation in a controlled setting. Play therapy provides a safe space to process these feelings.
Control: Dumping toy bins or creating chaos is often a way for children to express a sense of powerlessness. Neurodivergent children, who often feel out of sync with their environment, may engage in this type of play to regain a sense of agency. Non-directive and guided play help them practice healthy ways to assert control and build confidence.
Fear and Disconnection: Hesitation in play or disengagement can signify feelings of uncertainty or helplessness. For autistic children, it might stem from sensory overwhelm or social anxiety. A play therapist gently supports the child in making the “unknown” feel safe and manageable, helping them engage in a way that aligns with their comfort level.
Emotion Regulation: Emotional outbursts, dramatic shifts in play themes, or rigid play patterns can indicate difficulties in managing emotions. Neurodivergent children, especially those diagnosed with ADHD and autism, may struggle with recognizing, expressing, and processing their feelings. Play therapy provides a structured yet flexible environment where children can experiment with different emotional responses, practice calming strategies, and build resilience through repetition and co-regulation with a trained therapist.
How Play Therapy Helps
Play therapy doesn’t just help children; it transforms families. Helping kids navigate their emotions and challenges creates a ripple effect of growth. Here’s what you can expect:
Increased emotional regulation: Kids learn to manage feelings, reducing meltdowns and outbursts.
Improved communication: Play provides a way to “say the unspeakable,” bridging gaps between thoughts and words.
Greater self-confidence: Mastering challenges in play builds resilience and self-esteem.
Fostering relationships: Through co-play, kids learn collaboration and empathy.
For neurodivergent children, these benefits are even more profound.
ADHD: Play therapy helps with impulse control, executive functioning, frustration tolerance, and structured problem-solving.
Autism (ASD): It supports social connection, emotional regulation, and sensory processing, helping autistic children explore interactions in a safe, predictable environment.
Why Play Therapy is Perfect for Big Feelings
If your child struggles with anxiety, trauma, neurodivergence-related challenges, or behavioral concerns, play therapy meets them right where they are.
It’s especially beneficial for:
Anxiety (including separation anxiety)
Trauma and PTSD
Emotional regulation challenges
Neurodivergence-related struggles (ADHD, ASD, SPD, and more)
Life transitions (divorce, loss, new siblings, school changes)
When words are hard, play therapy provides an outlet for feelings too big or complex to articulate.
A Parent’s Perspective
As a parent and play therapist, I’ve seen the magic of play therapy up close. I’ve watched as children let down their guards, build resilience, and transform their worlds—all while laughing at overstuffed animal antics. My own neurodivergent children have benefited immensely from the safe, nurturing environment play therapy offers.
Parents often ask, “But what if my child just plays quietly? Or refuses to engage?” Here’s the secret: that’s okay. Whether your child is hiding behind a tower of blocks or talking non-stop, they’re showing us their inner world. And that’s where healing begins.
Why Choose a Registered Play Therapist?
Not all play is therapeutic, and not all therapists are play therapists. Registered Play Therapists (RPTs) undergo specialized training and supervision to decode the deep emotional and cognitive work happening in the play. They bring expertise to a space where children feel understood, safe, and seen in theoretical and evidence-based therapeutic processes.
Play: The Way to a Child’s Heart
During Play Therapy Week, let’s remember the truth behind the chaos: play is the language of healing. It’s how children connect, process, and grow. If your child faces big feelings, neurodivergence-related struggles, or challenging behaviors, play therapy could be the bridge they need to a happier, healthier self.
Ready to take the next step? Find a Registered Play Therapist near you, and let the power of play transform your child’s world. Because sometimes, the best healing starts with a dinosaur battle or a box of crayons.
Celebrating Play Therapy Week: The Power of Play
Play is the universal language of children, a dynamic medium through which they explore, express, and heal. At our practice, we believe deeply in the therapeutic power of play, which is why our therapists are either fully trained or actively pursuing credentials to become Registered Play Therapists. We are committed to creating safe, nurturing spaces where children can work through challenges, discover resilience, and build skills that last a lifetime.
Play therapy is not just "playing." It's a neurobiologically informed, evidence-based intervention that fosters growth, regulation, and connection in ways words often cannot. Yep, it uses brain science to heal those developing brains, using their natural form of expression and learning—PLAY!
If you want a handout on Play Therapy, get it here!
Happy Play Therapy Week!
