Play Therapy: A Guide for Referrers

This page is for parents, class teachers, school SENCOs, GPs, paediatricians, social workers, CAMHS practitioners, educational psychologists and other professionals who are considering referring a child for play therapy or advising a family about their options.

It explains what play therapy is, what it addresses, what professional standards apply in the UK, how to identify a suitably qualified practitioner, and what families can expect from the process.

Play Therapy UK (PTUK) maintains a professional register for qualified play therapists in the UK. All practitioners on the PTUK register have completed accredited postgraduate training and work within a framework of ongoing clinical supervision and professional accountability. PTUK is accredited by the PSA (Professional Standards Authority), who oversee the regulation and registration of healthcare professionals and organisations in the UK.

What Is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a type of therapy where play and art materials are used as the main way for the client to express themselves. This makes sense to children developmentally and psychologically.

It is a structured psychological intervention in which trained therapists use play to help children process emotions, understand experiences and overcome difficulties that they cannot yet put into words. It is grounded in psychological theory and has an established evidence base.

It is not simply playing with children. It is a clinical discipline with specific theoretical frameworks, trained and registered practitioners, and therapeutic goals aimed at meaningful emotional and behavioural change. Using play means that the child can explore their thoughts and feelings in creative and dynamic ways, without having to use words to articulate themselves. A wide variety of creative media may be used, including sand tray, art, puppets, clay, music, storytelling, role play and movement — all within a consistent therapeutic relationship.

Talking about problems can be hard for children. A child may not have the words to describe how they are feeling, or why they are behaving as they do. A child may not be able to recognise what they find difficult, or explain it to someone if asked. Play therapy provides the expertise and time to do this through play. Play therapy sessions aim to build a child’s ability to develop healthy and resilient relationships, and to work through traumatic experiences which may be preoccupying them. Preoccupying difficult feelings can make learning at school or managing emotions impossible. Addressing these through play provides a layer of story or metaphor to what is being shared and felt. Metaphor can provide a degree of removal from experience for the child, making it feel safer and less intense to express themselves or explore their experiences.

At the heart of play therapy is a dynamic process between the child and the therapist. Within the playroom, the child is free to explore at their own pace, using the available materials in whatever way feels right. Through this process, children can express feelings and experiences, experiment with how they respond within the safety of a therapeutic space, and develop healthier ways of coping that they carry into their everyday lives.

Play therapy is primarily used with children, though with adaptations it can be effective with adolescents, young people and adults. It is delivered by PTUK-registered therapists across a range of settings including private practice, schools, NHS services and charitable organisations.

For more information about what play therapy is and how it works, please visit https://playtherapy.org.uk/what-is-play-therapy/ and https://playtherapy.org.uk/how-does-play-therapy-work/.

What Play Therapy Addresses

Play therapy can support children across a wide range of presentations, including:

• Trauma and abuse — physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, domestic violence exposure, acute traumatic events
• Anxiety — generalised anxiety, separation anxiety, school refusal, phobias, social anxiety
• Attachment difficulties — early neglect, inconsistent caregiving, adoption, fostering, multiple placements
• Bereavement, grief and loss — including anticipatory grief and loss through family separation
• ADHD — emotional, relational and self-concept difficulties accompanying neurodevelopmental conditions
• Autism — anxiety reduction, emotional regulation, communication and connection at the child’s own pace
• Emotional and behavioural difficulties — aggression, defiance, withdrawal, emotional dysregulation, low self-esteem
• Family transitions — separation, divorce, remarriage, moves, new siblings
• Illness and medical challenges — chronic illness, hospitalisation, adjustment to disability

Play therapy addresses the emotional, relational and wellbeing dimensions of these presentations. It is not a medical treatment and does not replace other clinical, educational or social care interventions. It works most effectively as part of a coordinated, multi-agency approach.

Professional Standards and Registration

In the UK, a well-recognised professional body for play therapists is Play Therapy UK (PTUK). PTUK maintains a professional register for qualified play therapists and upholds excellent standards for training, ethics, supervision and professional conduct.

Practitioners on the PTUK register have:

• Completed university-accredited postgraduate training in play therapy
• Met the required hours of supervised clinical practice
• A current Enhanced DBS disclosure
• Professional indemnity insurance
• Ongoing clinical supervision
• A commitment to continuing professional development
• A commitment to best practice in clinical outcome record keeping

You can search for PTUK-registered therapists using the Find a Play Therapist directory on this website.

PTUK is accredited by the PSA (Professional Standards Authority), who oversee the regulation and registration of healthcare professionals and organisations in the UK.

What Parents Can Expect

Whether making the initial referral or not, parents play an important role in their child’s therapy.

Before therapy can begin, fully informed and written consent must be given by the parent(s)/carer(s). An initial consultation will be arranged to talk through why a referral has been made and to explain what play therapy is and how it works.

This consultation typically involves the therapist and parents/carers, without the child. The time can be used to discuss the child’s history, the presenting concerns, the aims for the therapy, and what the therapeutic process would involve. This is an opportunity for families to ask questions and for the therapist to assess whether play therapy is appropriate for the individual child.

Once they begin, sessions are held in a consistent space, at a consistent time, with the same therapist. This may be at the child’s school, at a therapeutic organisation or at the therapist’s own practice. The predictability of timing and setting is important because children’s difficulties often involve a sense that the world is unpredictable or unsafe. In their sessions, children are free to use the available materials in whatever way feels right to them, within clear therapeutic boundaries.

As therapy continues, parents will receive regular updates. Parental involvement is associated with significantly stronger outcomes, and most play therapists will offer guidance to parents alongside the child’s sessions as a matter of course.

For more information for parents about what to expect, and for a page designed for children, please visit https://playtherapy.org.uk/for-parents/ and https://playtherapy.org.uk/for-children/.

A PTUK information source for younger children is also available: “Let’s Talk About Play Therapy”.

Indicators for Referral

Play therapy may be worth considering when:

• A child is presenting with emotional or behavioural difficulties that are affecting their daily functioning — at school, at home or in relationships — and the difficulties appear to have an emotional or relational dimension.
• The child has experienced trauma, loss, abuse or significant disruption and has not had access to therapeutic support.
• The child struggles to engage with verbal or talk-based approaches due to age, developmental stage or the nature of their difficulties or experiences.
• Existing interventions have not produced the expected outcomes and a different modality is worth exploring.
• The child’s behaviour appears to be communication of underlying emotional distress that other approaches have not addressed.

If you are uncertain whether play therapy is appropriate for a specific child, a PTUK-registered therapist will be able to advise following an initial consultation.

Liaison and Collaboration

PTUK-registered play therapists are trained to work collaboratively with other professionals involved in a child’s care. With appropriate consent, a therapist may liaise with GPs, CAMHS practitioners, social workers, schools or other services to ensure a coordinated approach and consistent support across the child’s environment.

If you are referring a child from a professional context and wish to discuss a case before making a formal referral, many therapists are willing to have a brief consultation by telephone. Use the Find a Play Therapist directory to identify registered practitioners in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is play therapy different from CAMHS provision?

CAMHS provides a range of mental health services for children and young people, of which play therapy may be one component in some settings. Play therapy delivered by PTUK-registered therapists in private practice or charitable settings operates independently of CAMHS, and families can access it directly without a CAMHS referral. For children on CAMHS waiting lists, independent play therapy may be an option worth discussing with the family.

What should I tell families when advising them about play therapy?

Play therapy is a structured psychological intervention delivered by trained, registered practitioners; it is not simply playing; it has an established evidence base; PTUK registration is the quality standard to look for; and families can search for registered therapists using the Find a Play Therapist directory on the PTUK website.

Can play therapy run alongside other educational or medical interventions?

Yes, but not at the same time as another psychotherapeutic one. A PTUK-registered therapist will discuss what is already in place and whether concurrent therapeutic work is appropriate. Communication and coordination between practitioners, with appropriate consent, is encouraged as best practice.

Are there circumstances where play therapy is not appropriate?

Play therapy is not suitable for all children in all circumstances. A qualified therapist will assess carefully whether the approach is right for a specific child and, if not, advise on alternative options. Referrers with specific concerns about a child’s suitability for play therapy are encouraged to discuss these directly with a therapist before proceeding.

Making a Referral

Families can self-refer to PTUK-registered play therapists via the “Find a Play Therapist” directory on this website, verifying PTUK registration when choosing a practitioner.

For professionals working in a setting (school, hospital, local authority, charitable organisation) that commissions play therapy services, PTUK can provide guidance on quality standards and what to look for when selecting a service provider.