Conditions That Play Therapy Help With

Conditions That Play Therapy Help With

Play therapy can be effective support for people of all ages, including children, young people and adults. Most commonly, play therapy is used with children, however some therapists will be specially trained to use it with young people and adults.

It can be used to support children, young people and adults across a wide range of emotional, behavioural and developmental difficulties. Rather than targeting a diagnosis in isolation, it supports the whole child — their feelings, relationships, developmental stage and lived experiences. This page gives an overview of some of the reasons that bring families to play therapy, and links to dedicated guidance for each area.

Play Therapy UK (PTUK) maintains the 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 standards.

How Play Therapy Works

Play therapy is child-centred: the child leads the process while the therapist provides attuned support and guidance. The therapist does not direct the child toward particular topics or outcomes; they create the conditions in which the child’s own inner resources can emerge and grow.

A wide variety of creative media may be used — sand trays, art materials, music, storytelling, puppets, role play, clay and movement. Through these, children can express feelings and experiences, explore how they respond within the safety of the therapy room, and develop healthier ways of coping that they carry into their everyday lives.

The therapeutic relationship itself is central to the work. For many children, the consistent, accepting presence of a skilled therapist — an adult who does not judge, does not rush and does not require the child to feel differently — is in itself a significant and often new experience. Through this relationship, children develop emotional literacy, improve communication, build relational skills and transfer what they learn into their everyday lives.

An adult and a young girl drawing together at a table

What Is Play Therapy and Who Is It For?

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.

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Conditions and Circumstances Play Therapy Addresses

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.

A young girl standing at an open window, seen from behind

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.

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A young child resting their head on a table

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.

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A child looking out of a car window at bare trees

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.

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A laughing toddler reaching out in a play area

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.

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A young child stacking letter blocks

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.

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A young girl holding an adult's hand by a lake

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

If your child’s behaviour or emotional wellbeing is affecting their daily life, their relationships, ability to attend school, sleep, confidence or happiness, it is worth speaking with a PTUK-registered play therapist. Many therapists offer an initial consultation to discuss whether play therapy is appropriate and what the process would involve.

Play therapy is primarily used with children, though with adaptations using creative arts modalities such as art, music, sand tray and drama, it can also be effective with adolescents, young people and adults.

The number of sessions depends on the individual child and the nature of their difficulties. Research indicates that positive effects begin to emerge around 16 sessions, though this varies depending on the child’s individual circumstances and complexity. Your therapist will discuss expectations with you at the outset and review progress regularly throughout.

Parental involvement is generally associated with better outcomes. Most play therapists offer regular updates and guidance to parents and carers alongside the child’s sessions. Some approaches, particularly filial therapy, involve parents directly in the therapeutic process as a central feature of the work.

Find a Qualified Play Therapist

Play Therapy UK (PTUK) maintains the UK professional register for qualified play therapists. All practitioners on the register have completed accredited postgraduate training, hold appropriate insurance and work under ongoing clinical supervision. Use the Find a Play Therapist directory on this website to search for a PTUK-registered therapist near you.

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