09/16/2026
All You Ever Wanted to Know About Play Therapy
What exactly is it?
Play is the primary language of a child, with toys used just as an adult would use words to speak. In play therapy, trained and licensed professional therapists observe, provide a rich “vocabulary” of toys, and provide a safe space for a child to communicate their experiences, needs, and emotions through play.
Play with a trained professional also allows a child to experiment with new ways of feeling and behaving. Through play, a child has more control and freedom than they do in real life. The positive changes that are made through play become real life gains in regulating emotions and behavior.
Who is it for?
Children going through transitions (divorce, loss, moving)
Children managing big or intense emotions
Children dealing with bullying
Children recovering from abuse or witnessing violence, Children experiencing serious or chronic illness
Children navigating life through the lens of autism or ADHD
Children who need support in developing social or friendship skills
Children whose behavior is disrupting their relationships or their learning
Basically: life is hard sometimes, even in size 5T.
Does it actually work?
Research says yes !🙌 Here are a few of the many benefits that studies have shown to come from play therapy:
• Reduced anxiety and behavior issues in kids with chronic illness
• Better teacher-student relationships
• Improved social-emotional skills in preschoolers
• Less pre-op and post-op stress before surgery
• Real gains for kids with ADHD, speech difficulties, and even displaced/orphaned children
The catch? It takes a trained and licensed professional therapist, and your child has to be on board with the play. It’s a good thing that therapists trained in play therapy know how to make inviting spaces where children feel comfortable and motivated to play!
Want to learn more? Check out our website at www.christiancounselingmadison.com
to explore your options and connect with one of our providers.
Source: Koukourikos et al., "An Overview of Play Therapy," Materia Socio-Medica, 2021
