How is play therapy different from just playing with a child?

Play therapy is a structured clinical intervention delivered by a trained, credentialed mental health professional using a specific theoretical framework and carefully selected therapeutic materials. The therapist is trained to observe and respond to the symbolic content of a child's play in ways that facilitate emotional processing and healing. It is meaningfully distinct from recreational play or supervised free play in educational settings.

How many sessions does play therapy typically take?

The number of sessions varies depending on the child's age, the nature and complexity of their concerns, and their response to treatment. Short-term interventions may involve 12 to 20 sessions, while children with more complex trauma histories or ongoing stressors may benefit from longer-term engagement. Your child's play therapist will typically discuss goals and anticipated duration during the intake and assessment phase.

What credentials should I look for in a play therapist?

In the United States, look for a mental health professional who holds an active state license — such as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor, or Licensed Psychologist — and who also holds the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential from the Association for Play Therapy. State licensing requirements vary, so it is advisable to verify credentials directly with your state's licensing board and the Association for Play Therapy's therapist directory.

Research-supported

Play Therapy

Healing through the language children already…

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CategoryComplementary

SafetyLow risk

Reviewed by Dr. Ava Gardner · Integrative Medicine Researcher

5 July 2026

At a glance

Play Therapy at a glance

What it is

Play therapy uses guided, therapeutic play to help children process emotions, trauma, and behavioral challenges.

Why people explore it

Childhood anxiety and worry
Processing trauma or abuse

About Play Therapy

Play therapy is a structured, theoretically grounded form of psychotherapy that uses play as the primary medium of communication and healing, particularly for children who may lack the verbal or cognitive skills to express complex emotions through traditional talk-based approaches. Because play is a child's natural language, trained therapists use toys, art materials, sand trays, puppets, and role-play scenarios to help young clients explore feelings, process difficult experiences, and develop healthier patterns of thinking and behavior. The therapeutic relationship between child and therapist is considered central to the healing process, providing a consistent, safe, and non-judgmental environment in which the child can lead or be gently guided through meaningful play experiences.

Play therapy is practiced in two broad orientations: child-centered (non-directive), in which the child directs the play with minimal therapist intervention, and directive approaches, in which the therapist introduces structured activities or themes aligned with specific therapeutic goals. Many practitioners integrate both styles depending on the child's needs and presenting concerns. Sessions are typically held in a dedicated playroom stocked with carefully selected materials designed to elicit expression across a wide range of emotional and developmental domains.

While play therapy is most commonly associated with children ages 3 through 12, adapted forms are used with adolescents and adults, incorporating age-appropriate materials and frameworks. It is applied in diverse settings including private practice, schools, hospitals, and community mental health centers. Play therapy is considered a complementary mental health modality and is most effective when delivered by a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) or an equivalent credentialed mental health professional with specialized play therapy training.

The roots of play therapy trace back to the early twentieth century and the broader psychoanalytic movement. Anna Freud and Melanie Klein were among the first clinicians to recognize that play could serve a function in child analysis analogous to free association in adult therapy, allowing children to symbolically express unconscious conflicts and anxieties. Their pioneering observations in the 1920s and 1930s established the intellectual foundation for what would become a distinct therapeutic discipline.

Virginia Axline built significantly on this foundation in the 1940s and 1950s, developing a non-directive, child-centered model grounded in Carl Rogers's humanistic principles. Her 1947 book on non-directive play therapy and her later widely read account of a child's therapeutic journey brought broad professional and public attention to the modality. Subsequent decades saw the emergence of diverse theoretical frameworks — including Adlerian, Jungian sandplay, gestalt, and cognitive-behavioral approaches — each adapting the core insight that play is children's natural therapeutic medium.

The Association for Play Therapy, founded in the United States in 1982, formalized professional credentialing standards and helped establish play therapy as a recognized mental health specialty. Today, it is practiced globally and continues to evolve with growing integration of trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and neurodevelopmentally informed frameworks.

Is this right for you?

A simple, human way to weigh it up. This is general guidance, not personal medical advice — a qualified practitioner can advise on your situation.

May be a good fit if…

Play therapy may be particularly well-suited for children between the ages of 3 and 12 who are experiencing emotional, behavioral, or social difficulties that are affecting their daily functioning, relationships, or development. Children who have experienced trauma, loss, abuse, family disruption, or significant life transitions such as divorce or a new sibling may find play therapy a meaningful way to process those experiences. It may also support children struggling with anxiety, depression, attention challenges, grief, social withdrawal, or aggressive behaviors that have not responded to other approaches. Children who have limited verbal ability, developmental delays, or who resist or struggle with traditional talk therapy are often considered particularly good candidates, since play therapy does not require a child to articulate their inner experience in words. Adapted forms may also benefit adolescents and adults who respond well to expressive, body-based, or creative modalities, particularly in the context of trauma recovery or developmental concerns.

May not be right if…

Play therapy may not be the most appropriate primary intervention for children or individuals whose concerns require urgent psychiatric evaluation, crisis stabilization, medication management, or medical diagnosis. It is not a substitute for assessment and treatment of conditions such as psychosis, severe mood disorders, or neurological conditions that require medical oversight. Families should be cautious about pursuing play therapy with practitioners who lack appropriate credentials or licensure. In the United States, play therapy should ideally be delivered by a licensed mental health professional who also holds the Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential through the Association for Play Therapy, or an equivalent qualification recognized in their state. States vary in licensure requirements for mental health practitioners, so families are encouraged to verify both mental health licensure and specialized play therapy training independently before beginning treatment.

Gyfts is a discovery platform, not a medical provider. Nothing here diagnoses, treats or replaces professional care. In an emergency, contact your local emergency number.

Play Therapy

Play Therapy at a glance

About Play Therapy

How it works

Evidence context

Staying safe

Is this right for you?

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