How Play Therapy Works

Play is a fundamental part of childhood. It is the natural way children explore the world, experiment with ideas, practise skills, and blend imagination with real-life experiences.

Feelings are also an essential part of human experience, and learning to recognise and understand them is equally important. Through play, children rehearse situations, test possibilities, and make sense of what is happening around them. Play supports development across both physical and cognitive areas and remains an important part of human life at every age.

For children, using play as a way to communicate their experiences feels natural. Often, children are able to play out what they cannot easily say in words. Through play they can explain their thoughts and feelings in their own way. This process allows them to explore, understand, and practise different ways of responding to difficult emotions, which can support healthier coping strategies and contribute to a happier and more balanced sense of wellbeing.

Emotions provide valuable information about what is happening within and around us, helping guide decisions about how to respond. The word “emotion” itself reflects this connection to action, deriving from the Latin word motere, meaning “to move,” with the prefix e suggesting movement away from something (Goleman, 1995, p.6).

When children begin to understand what they are feeling and why, they gain greater awareness and control over their responses. This awareness allows them to make more thoughtful choices about their actions, rather than reacting impulsively or becoming trapped in patterns of behaviour that may not be helpful. In Play Therapy, paying attention to thoughts and emotions is central to the work.

An important part of this process is the therapeutic relationship. This relationship is carefully developed to create the conditions needed for children to explore their thoughts and emotions safely.

Within the session, children have the opportunity to explore and make sense of their feelings through play. As they do so, they can begin to choose responses that support their wellbeing and development. Practising these skills in the safe and supportive environment of the therapy room strengthens their confidence and understanding, helping them apply these new strategies in their everyday lives outside of therapy.

The therapeutic relationship also ensures that the child does not face their experiences alone.

The therapist provides consistent boundaries and a structured, predictable setting, while offering emotional support and understanding. This containing environment allows children to feel safe enough to explore strong or complex emotions, knowing that they are supported throughout the process.

Emotions, thoughts, and learning are closely linked to the development of the brain. As children experience and process feelings, neural pathways are formed and strengthened through the firing of synapses. These connections contribute to the development of a child’s cognitive and emotional resources.

Research shows that children’s experiences and relationships play a significant role in shaping brain structure and organisation (Riggs, 2006; Fishbein, 2007). Studies also indicate that when children are supported to connect words with feelings, neural pathways linking higher and lower brain structures become stronger. This strengthens their ability to regulate intense emotions and manage stress later in life, skills that are important for social and emotional wellbeing (Hariri, 2000; Pennebaker, 1993; Fossati, 2003).

Play Therapy offers many opportunities for this kind of learning to take place. Within the metaphor and storytelling that often emerge through play, children can explore experiences and feelings in ways that feel manageable and meaningful. The therapeutic space allows them to reflect on different aspects of their identity in a safe and supportive environment, helping them develop greater self-understanding and make positive changes in their lives.

#BigEnoughToDeliverSmallEnoughToCare

PTUK (Play Therapy UK) is the accreditor for all APAC courses.

Connect

T: 01825 761143

E: contact@apac.org.uk

Privacy Notice

How Play Therapy Works

Play is a fundamental part of childhood. It is the natural way children explore the world, experiment with ideas, practise skills, and blend imagination with real-life experiences.

The therapeutic relationship also ensures that the child does not face their experiences alone.

#BigEnoughToDeliverSmallEnoughToCare

More Links

Connect