Play Therapy: How It Helps Kids Talk About the Things They Don’t Have Words For

If you’ve ever watched your child melt down because you simply said "Good Morning" or seen them go quiet in a way that makes your stomach drop, you know this: kids feel things deeply, but they don’t always have the words to explain what’s going on inside.

That’s where play therapy comes in—not as a cute activity or a glorified craft hour, but as a developmentally-appropriate therapy that actually works with how children’s brains communicate.

Kids play their feelings long before they can speak them.
And that’s exactly why play therapy helps them heal, regulate, and make sense of their world without needing a perfectly worded sentence.

Let’s get into what it actually looks like, how it works, and how it helps the kids who are struggling with big emotions, big transitions, or just plain big “kid life.”

What Exactly Is Play Therapy?

Imagine if your therapist handed you a tray of sand, a box of tiny figures, a puppet who looks like they’ve seen some things, and said, “Go ahead—show me what’s happening for you.”

You would think, Absolutely not.
Kids, on the other hand?
They’re all in.

Play therapy is a specialized form of child therapy designed for the way children actually communicate—through symbolic play, sensory experiences, storytelling, and imagination.

A therapist trained in play therapy t isn’t just “playing with your child.”
They’re watching for themes, emotional patterns, avoidance, power dynamics, fear responses, and coping strategies—things kids show long before they can explain.

Play becomes the language.
The toys become the words.
And children finally get a safe place to say what’s too hard, too big, or too confusing to put into sentences.

What Happens in a Play Therapy Session?

Spoiler: It’s not Pinterest-y.
It’s not “Let’s glue some pom poms on cardboard and hope for emotional growth.”

Here’s what it actually looks like:

The First Session (With You)

Before your child ever walks into the room, there’s a parent-only session.
We talk about behaviour changes, sleep, transitions, family dynamics, and anything else that gives context to your child’s emotional world.

No one knows your child’s patterns more than you do, and your insights shape the plan.

The Playroom

A play therapy room is structured and intentional, not a free-for-all.
You’ll see:

• Miniatures
• Puppets
• Art tools
• Sensory toys
• A sand tray
• Safe ways to act out emotions

Every item has a therapeutic purpose. Your child can reenact, create, destroy, rebuild—basically process experiences that are stuck in their bodies and minds.

Non-Directive Play Therapy

Think:
Your child leads.
The therapist follows and observes.

This builds trust, autonomy, and emotional expression.

Directive Play Therapy

Think:
The therapist gently guides play toward themes or skills your child is working on.

This helps with anxiety, emotional regulation, trauma, and coping strategies.

What Kids Often Show Through Play

• Power struggles
• Fear themes
• Family dynamics
• Safety vs. threat
• Avoidance
• Confidence
• Social patterns
• Loss or grief
• Trauma reenactments (always at the child’s pace)

Kids don’t sit on a couch and say,
“I’m feeling quite dysregulated lately.”
They bury a dinosaur in the sand tray so the T-rex mom can’t leave him again.
Or they make the puppets argue in the same way they hear at home.
Or they draw something they’ve never dared talk about.

Play is safer than words.

What Play Therapy Helps With

Most parents first reach out when their child’s behaviour starts to shift in ways that make them say, “Something’s off here.” Play therapy helps with:

Emotional Regulation

Kids can’t regulate until they understand what’s happening internally.
Play helps them identify, express, and practice safe ways to release emotions.

Anxiety

Fear of separating, fear of school, fear of “what if.”
Play therapy gives the anxiety a shape and a storyline—making it less overwhelming.

Anger + Aggression

Kids act out what they cannot say.
The playroom becomes a safe container to explore anger without shame.

Big Transitions

Divorce, moves, school changes, new siblings—kids feel the ripple effects deeply.

Behavioural Challenges

Often, “bad behaviour” is a communication attempt.
Play therapy helps uncover the message beneath the meltdown.

Grief + Loss

Children don’t grieve the way adults do.
They jump in and out of grief—play helps them process at their pace.

Trauma

This includes:

• medical trauma
• witnessing violence
• family conflict
• accidents
• neglect
• attachment injuries

Trauma lives in the body—and play is one of the safest ways to release it.

Neurodivergent Needs

For kids with ADHD, autism, or sensory differences, play therapy supports:

• flexible thinking
• emotional regulation
• processing sensory overload
• communication
• social skills

How You Know Your Child May Benefit From Play Therapy

You don’t need a dramatic event for play therapy to help.
These signs matter:

• Increased tantrums or meltdowns
• Anger that comes out of nowhere
• Trouble sleeping
• Regression (bedwetting, baby talk, clinginess)
• Big separation anxiety
• School refusal or stomach aches
• Shutting down or withdrawing
• Sudden fears
• Trouble communicating feelings
• Sibling conflict that feels constant

Parents often say,
“I just feel like something is happening under the surface.”
Trust that instinct. You’re usually right.

How Play Therapy Supports Neurodivergent Kids

You know those kids who absorb everything? Who feel 20 steps ahead emotionally but still melt down when the grilled cheese is cut wrong?

Play therapy meets them where they’re at.

For neurodivergent kids, traditional talk therapy is often too direct, too fast, or too verbally demanding. Play therapy supports:

• Emotional literacy
• Understanding of sensory experiences
• Co-regulation skills
• Social interpretation
• Confidence in communication
• Processing frustration or overwhelm

They get to externalize feelings rather than burying them.

What Parents Should Expect (And Not Expect)

Here’s the truth most people won’t say:

**Play therapy is not instant.

But it is powerful.**

You can expect:

• gradual emotional shifts
• fewer explosive behaviours
• more confidence
• better communication
• deeper resilience
• themes to emerge as your child processes

You should not expect:

• a perfect report after every session
• a detailed breakdown of everything your child said or played
• overnight progress

Confidentiality protects the process, and progress often looks like tiny shifts that build over time.

How Long Does Play Therapy Take?

It depends on:

• your child’s developmental stage
• the concern
• trauma history
• attachment patterns
• regulation skills
• readiness

Some kids do 8–12 sessions.
Others, especially those with trauma or anxiety, need more time.

We always move at your child’s pace. Healing doesn’t rush.

Is Play Therapy Actually Effective?

Short answer: yes.

Longer answer:
It’s one of the most research-supported treatments for young children.

Studies show improvements in:

• emotional regulation
• trauma symptoms
• anxiety
• confidence
• attachment
• social skills
• behaviour

Kids become more resilient because they finally have a safe outlet for everything they’re carrying.

How to Choose a Qualified Child Therapist

Look for someone who:

• has training in play therapy
• if a provisional psychologist, ensure they receive clinical supervision from someone who has clinical training in play therapy
• understands child development
• works from trauma-informed and attachment-based approaches
• can collaborate with you, and other supports
• communicates clearly during parent check-ins

If You're Considering Play Therapy, Here’s What I Want You to Know

You’re not overreacting.
You’re not “reading too much into things.”
You’re not the only parent wondering why your child seems overwhelmed, angry, anxious, or unlike themselves.

Kids don’t grow out of feelings they’re drowning in.
They grow through them—with support.

Play therapy gives them a safe space to unpack what’s too heavy to carry alone.

And if you’ve been thinking,
“Maybe it’s time to get help,”
it probably is.

Looking for Play Therapy? We Can Support Your Child and Your Family

At Couples to Cradles Counselling, our child therapists specialize in play therapy, emotional regulation, and helping kids work through anxiety, big feelings, trauma, and behavioural challenges.

We offer:

• Play therapy and child counselling (Lethbridge, Camrose and virtual across Canada for older kids)
• Attachment-focused parent support
• Culturally sensitive, neurodivergent-affirming care
• Evening and weekend availability
• Direct billing to major insurers

If your child is struggling, they don’t have to navigate it alone—and neither do you.

👉 Book a free 20-minute consult today to see how play therapy can support your child’s growth and healing.

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