What happens in play therapy?
Actually there are many different types of play therapy, so what happens in a session can be quite varied. The common aspects are that the therapist holding the session will know how to systematically use play or playful activities to communicate with the child. (See the article on this website about how to select a play therapist.) The specific activities will differ. Here are some of the things that might happen. Sometimes therapists take children into a playroom that has a wide range of carefully selected toys. The toys are chosen because they help children express a variety of feelings and problems. The therapist allows the child to select the toys and the ways that they want to play with them. The therapist pays extremely close attention to the child’s actions and feelings, sometimes engages in imaginary play with the child, and sets limits if the child’s behavior gets “out of line.” In this type of play therapy, called child-centered play therapy, the child’s problems or issues u
