For many parents and carers, the idea of play therapy can feel a little mysterious. You might picture toys, art materials, or a sand tray — but wonder what actually happens in the room and how it helps.
Play therapy is a special kind of space where children can express feelings and experiences through play, rather than words. While adults often talk things through to make sense of things, children communicate most naturally through play... it’s their language, and toys are their words.
Each play therapy session lasts around 45 minutes and takes place weekly in the same room. This consistency helps children feel safe and supported as they get to know the space and the therapist. The room is set up with a carefully chosen selection of toys and materials such as figures, animals, art supplies, sand, puppets, and role-play resources. Each one designed to help children explore themes like safety, control, nurture, power, and belonging.
Every child’s way of using the space is different. Some develop a familiar routine to begin and end their sessions perhaps choosing the same activity to start, or we have a way that together we signal the end of the session. Others prefer to dive straight in, exploring whatever draws their attention that day. The therapist follows the child’s lead, offering understanding, reflection, and gentle structure so that the play feels both safe and free.
Sometimes the play looks light and imaginative, building worlds, creating stories, or making art. Other times, it might include themes of anger, sadness, or control. This is all part of how children process their experiences and make sense of their inner world. Through the security of the therapeutic relationship, they can explore difficult feelings at their own pace, discover new ways of coping, and build confidence in themselves.
Parents and carers are a pivotal part of every stage of the therapeutic process. As well as facilitating your child’s attendance, your involvement and reflections are key. Regular reviews provide space to stay up to date with how things are going, to share what you’ve noticed at home or school, and to explore how the therapy is supporting your child’s emotional wellbeing. This ongoing communication helps strengthen the bridge between the therapy room and home life, ensuring that the support your child receives is consistent, sensitive, and collaborative.
Play therapy may look simple, but within those 45 minutes of play, something powerful is happening, a child is finding safety, understanding, and their own way forward, supported by the caring adults around them.
If you’re curious about whether play therapy could support your child, or would simply like to understand more about what to expect, please feel free to get in touch. Sometimes the first step is simply starting the conversation.
Add comment
Comments