Play therapy is a specialised structured therapeutic intervention in which trained therapists use play, the child’s natural form of expression, to help children process emotions, experiences and difficulties they cannot yet put into words. Play is children’s primary form of communication. Play therapy is more than simply playing with children. It is a form of counselling for children that is a clinical discipline grounded in psychological theory, with an established and growing evidence base.

Children communicate through play long before they are able to link words to their experiences. A trained and skilled therapist uses this understanding to help a child explore their inner world, process difficult experiences and develop healthier ways of coping, all within the safety of a consistent therapeutic relationship.

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

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 and following their own interests, using a wide range of creative and symbolic materials — sand trays, art, music, storytelling, puppets, role play, clay and movement. Through these, children can play out feelings and experiences, experiment with how they respond in a safe space, and develop healthier ways of coping.

Play therapy can be effective in supporting children, young people and adults with a range of needs. The following gives an overview of the most common areas, each of which has its own dedicated page on this site with more detailed guidance.

Anxiety

Anxiety is one of the most common reasons families seek play therapy. In children, anxiety can present in many forms. Some children will experience chronic worry, while others might struggle with physical complaints, school refusal, clinginess, avoidance, fears or emotional outbursts. Play therapy provides a safe, consistent space in which children can express and gradually process anxious feelings without needing to talk about them directly.

Trauma and Abuse

Children who have experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, domestic violence, sudden bereavement or other overwhelming events often cannot put their experiences into words. Play therapy engages the sensory and emotional systems where difficult experience is held, allowing children to approach and process difficult material through symbolic play at a pace that feels manageable to them.

Bereavement and Grief

Childhood grief looks different from adult grief. Children process loss intermittently and often through play rather than through direct expression. Play therapy provides a consistent, accepting space for grief to be expressed, explored and gradually integrated, without any pressure to move on or to grieve in an adult way. It also supports children through non-death losses, including family separation and significant change.

Attachment Difficulties

Children who have experienced early neglect, inconsistent caregiving, multiple changes of carer, adoption or fostering may have attachment difficulties that affect every area of their lives. Play therapy offers a reliable, attuned adult relationship as the primary therapeutic medium, providing many children with an experience of being consistently seen and responded to, often for the first time in their lives.

ADHD

Play therapy focuses on supporting the emotional, relational and self-concept difficulties that children with ADHD frequently experience. Children with ADHD often experience intense emotions and develop a negative sense of themselves after years of being perceived as difficult. Play therapy supports emotional regulation, frustration tolerance, social skills and a more secure sense of identity, all within a consistent, accepting relationship.

Autism

Play therapy for autistic children focuses on reducing anxiety, building emotional regulation and developing communication and connection at the child’s own pace. The therapist follows the child’s lead entirely, adapting the environment and activities to the child’s sensory and developmental profile. The purpose is not to change who the child is, but to support them in thriving as their authentic selves.

Family Transitions

Divorce, separation, remarriage, new siblings, moves and changes in living arrangements are among the most common triggers for emotional and behavioural difficulties in children. Play therapy provides a stable, consistent space during a period of external change, helping children process their feelings, develop resilience and distinguish between what is and is not within their control.

Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties

Aggression, defiance, withdrawal, emotional dysregulation, low self-esteem, school avoidance, friendship difficulties, nightmares, and difficulties with sleeping, eating or toileting are all areas where play therapy can help. Behaviour in children is almost always a form of communication. Play therapy works to understand and address the underlying emotional experience that is driving the behaviour.

Illness and Medical Challenges

Chronic illness, hospitalisation, upcoming surgery and adjustment to disability all place significant emotional demands on children. Play therapy helps children process fear, regain a sense of control and cope with circumstances they did not choose and cannot change.