When children feel overwhelmed, confused, or upset, they often show it through behaviour, not words. That’s where play therapy becomes such a powerful tool. It allows children to express, explore, and process their thoughts and feelings through play, which is their most natural form of communication.
How Does Play Therapy Help Children?
At Enlightened Minds, play therapy helps children who may be struggling with anxiety, bereavement, trauma, neurodiversity, or emotional regulation. But how exactly does it help?
Play Is the Child’s Language
Adults talk. Children play. Through play, children reveal their inner world, their worries, their hopes, their fears. Whether they’re using dolls, drawing pictures, building with blocks, or role-playing with puppets, they are making sense of what’s going on inside.
A trained play therapist observes these expressions and gently helps the child explore and understand what they’re communicating, often without needing to ask direct questions.
It Builds Trust and Safety
Many children arrive at therapy feeling anxious, confused, or guarded. Play therapy creates a safe space where there is no pressure to talk or explain. Instead, the child leads the session. Over time, this helps to build trust, both in the therapist and in themselves.
When a child feels emotionally safe, they are more likely to explore difficult feelings and experiences, knowing they will be accepted without judgment.
Common Behavioural Traits and How Play Therapy Helps
| Behavioural Trait | What It Might Indicate | How Play Therapy Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Withdrawal or silence | Anxiety, trauma, or grief | Creates safe space for self-expression through toys, drawing, or storytelling |
| Frequent emotional outbursts | Unprocessed emotions or poor emotional regulation | Teaches self-regulation using movement, metaphor, and play structure |
| Aggression toward peers or adults | Frustration, lack of coping strategies, or feeling misunderstood | Releases anger safely through roleplay and symbolic expression |
| Difficulty concentrating | Possible ADHD or emotional overwhelm | Improves focus by channelling energy into calming, sensory-based activities |
| Obsessive or repetitive play | Need for control, anxiety, or neurodivergent processing | Gives child control in a safe setting; helps explore worries metaphorically |
| Over-compliance or perfectionism | Fear of failure, past criticism, or attachment issues | Builds self-worth through positive reinforcement and non-judgemental play |
| Sensitivity to noise or texture | Sensory processing differences, often linked to autism | Normalises sensory exploration and teaches calming routines |
| Struggles with transitions | Fear of change, trauma history, or lack of routine | Practises transitions gently through predictable, structured sessions |
| Low self-esteem or negative self-talk | Internalised criticism, social rejection, or low confidence | Strengthens confidence with empowering roles and affirming interaction |
| Avoidance of eye contact | Shyness, trauma, or self-protection | Builds trust and connection without pressure to make eye contact |
It Helps Children Process Trauma and Grief
For children who have experienced bereavement, separation, abuse, or any form of trauma, verbalising those experiences can be almost impossible. But through symbolic play, children can act out stories and scenarios that reflect their emotions, helping them process complex feelings in a manageable, age-appropriate way.
One child may bury and unbury toy figures in sand, expressing grief. Another might create conflict scenarios using animals or action figures, safely acting out anger or fear. These metaphors allow difficult feelings to be expressed, understood, and eventually integrated.
It Supports Emotional Regulation and Behaviour
Play therapy isn’t just about expression, it helps with emotional regulation too. Over time, children begin to recognise their feelings and the sensations that come with them. With the therapist’s guidance, they learn tools to manage frustration, anxiety, or sadness in more constructive ways.
For children who may have been labelled as “difficult” or “hyperactive”, play therapy creates space for emotional growth without blame or shame.
Discover the Benefits of Play Therapy
If your child is struggling with emotions, behaviour, or confidence, play therapy could help them feel understood, supported, and empowered. Learn how Louise at Enlightened Minds uses creative play to gently support healing and growth in a safe and affirming space.
It Encourages Self-Esteem and Confidence
When a child is given the space to be truly seen, accepted, and understood, their confidence begins to grow. Many children who have struggled socially or academically benefit from the therapeutic relationship itself! A consistent, caring adult who listens without judging.
This sense of being valued just as they are becomes a foundation for greater self-worth and resilience.
Who Can Benefit from Play Therapy?
Play therapy can help children with:
- Anxiety and low mood
- ADHD and autism
- Difficult behaviour or outbursts
- Bereavement, family breakdown, or trauma
- Attachment difficulties
- Bullying, friendship issues, and low confidence
At Enlightened Minds, sessions are led by Louise, a fully qualified Play Therapist and Social Worker with over 20 years of experience supporting children and families. Her approach is neurodiversity-affirming, gentle, and grounded in child-led practice.
Play Therapy Helps Children
Play therapy helps children because it meets them where they are, in their world, on their terms. It turns confusion into clarity, behaviour into communication, and play into healing.
Whether your child is struggling after a big life change or simply finding it hard to manage everyday emotions, play therapy may be the bridge they need to feel heard, supported, and understood.