How Play Therapy Treats and Benefits

Children and Some Adults

Medically reviewed by Karen Gill, M.D. — By Ann Pietrangelo on October 11,
2019

Overview Benefits When it’s used How it works Techniques

Examples For adults Summary

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What is play therapy?

Play therapy is a form of therapy used primarily for children. That’s
because children may not be able to process their own emotions or
articulate problems to parents or other adults.

While it may look like an ordinary playtime, play therapy can be much
more than that.

A trained therapist can use playtime to observe and gain insights into a
child’s problems. The therapist can then help the child explore emotions
and deal with unresolved trauma. Through play, children can learn new
coping mechanisms and how to redirect inappropriate behaviors.

Play therapy is practiced by a variety of licensed mental health

professionals, like psychologists and psychiatrists. It’s also practiced by
behavioral and occupational therapists, physical therapists, and social
workers.

In addition, the Association for Play Therapy offers specialized training

programs and advanced credentials for licensed mental health
professionals, school counselors, and school psychologists.

Benefits of play therapy

According to the professional organization Play Therapy International, up
to 71 percent of children referred to play therapy may experience positive
change.

While some children might start off with some hesitation, trust in the
therapist tends to grow. As they become more comfortable and their
bond strengthens, the child may become more creative or more verbal in
their play.

Some of the potential benefits of play therapy are:

taking more responsibility for certain behaviors

developing coping strategies and creative problem-solving skills

self-respect
empathy and respect for others
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alleviation of anxiety
learning to fully experience and express feelings
 stronger social skills

stronger family relationships

Play therapy can also encourage use of language or improve fine and
gross motor skills.

If your child has a diagnosed mental or physical illness, play therapy

doesn’t replace medications or any other necessary treatments. Play
therapy can be used alone or alongside other therapies.
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When play therapy is used

Although people of all ages can benefit from play therapy, it’s typically
used with children between the ages of 3 and 12. Play therapy may be
helpful in a variety of circumstances, such as:

facing medical procedures, chronic illness, or palliative care

developmental delay or learning disabilities

problem behaviors in school

aggressive or angry behavior

family issues, like divorce, separation, or death of a close family

member
natural disasters or traumatic events

domestic violence, abuse, or neglect

anxiety, depression, grief

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eating and toileting disorders
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
 autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

How does play therapy work?

There’s a bit of a communication gap between children and adults.
Depending on age and stage of development, children simply don’t have
the language skills of adults. They may feel something, but in many cases,
they either can’t express it to an adult or don’t have a trusted adult to
express it to.

On the other end, adults can misinterpret or completely miss the child’s
verbal and nonverbal cues.

Children learn to understand the world and their place in it through play.
It’s where they’re free to act out their inner feelings and deepest
emotions. Toys can act as symbols and take on greater meaning — if you
know what to look for.

Since the child can’t adequately express themselves in the adult world,
the therapist joins the child in their world, on their level.

As they play, the child may become less guarded and more apt to share
their feelings. But they aren’t pressured. They’re allowed to do so in their
own time and with their own method of communication.

Play therapy will differ depending on the therapist and the particular
needs of the child. To begin, the therapist may want to observe the child
at play. They may also want to conduct separate interviews with the child,
parents, or teachers.

After a thorough assessment, the therapist will set some therapeutic

goals, decide on what limits may be necessary, and formulate a plan for
how to proceed.

Play therapists pay close attention to how a child handles being

separated from the parent, how they play alone, and how they react when
the parent returns.

Much can be revealed in how a child interacts with different types of toys
and how their behavior changes from session to session. They may use 
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play to act out fears and anxieties, as a soothing mechanism, or to heal

and problem-solve.
Play therapists use these observations as a guide to the next steps. Each
child is different, so therapy will be tailored to their individual needs. As
therapy progresses, behaviors and goals can be reassessed.

At some point, the therapist may bring parents, siblings, or other family
members into play therapy. This is known as filial therapy. It can help
teach conflict resolution, promote healing, and improve family dynamics.

Play therapy techniques

Sessions typically last 30 minutes to an hour and are held once a week or
so. How many sessions are needed depends on the child and how well
they respond to this type of therapy. Therapy can take place individually
or in groups.

Play therapy can be directive or nondirective. In the directive approach,

the therapist will take the lead by specifying the toys or games that’ll be
used in the session. The therapist will guide the play with a specific goal
in mind.

The nondirective approach is less structured. The child is able to choose

toys and games as they see fit. They’re free to play in their own way with
few instructions or interruptions. The therapist will observe closely and
participate as appropriate.

Sessions must take place in an environment where the child feels safe
and where there are few limitations. The therapist may use techniques
that involve:

creative visualization

storytelling

role-playing
toy phones

puppets, stuffed animals, and masks

dolls, action figures

arts and crafts

water and sand play
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blocks and construction toys

 dance and creative movement

musical play

Examples of play therapy

Depending on the child and the situation, the therapist will either guide
the child toward certain methods of play or let them choose for
themselves. There are any number of ways the therapist can use play
therapy to get to know the child and help them cope with their problems.

For example, the therapist might offer the child a dollhouse and some
dolls, asking them to act out some problems they have at home. Or they
might encourage the child to use hand puppets to recreate something
they found stressful or frightening.

They might ask your child to tell a “once upon a time” story to see what
the child might bring to light. Or they might read stories that solve a
problem similar to your child’s. This is referred to as bibliotherapy.

It could be as simple as asking questions while your child is drawing or

painting to try to gain insights into their thought process. Or play various
games with the child to encourage problem-solving, cooperation, and
social skills.

Play therapy for adults

Play isn’t just for kids, and neither is play therapy. Teenagers and adults
can also have a difficult time expressing their innermost feelings in words.
Adults who may benefit from play therapy include those affected by:

intellectual disabilities

dementia

chronic illness, palliative care, and hospice care

substance use

trauma and physical abuse

anger management issues

post-traumatic
A D V E Rstress
T I S E M E N Tdisorder (PTSD)

unresolved childhood issues

When working with adults, a therapist may use dramatic role-playing or
sand-tray therapy to help you get in touch with feelings that are hard to
talk about. These therapies can help you work on strategies for dealing
with particular scenarios.

The very act of playing, whether it’s games, arts and crafts, or music and
dance, can help you relax and unwind from the stresses of everyday life.

Art therapy, music therapy, and movement can help reveal hidden
traumas and promote healing. Under the guidance of an experienced
therapist, play can be a valuable tool in getting you where you want to be.
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Play therapy for adults may be used as a complement to other types of
therapy and medications. As with children, the therapist will tailor play
PARENTHOOD Stages Infertility Health & Well-Being Life Sex &
therapy to your specific needs.

Takeaway
Play therapy is a method of therapy that uses play to uncover and deal
with psychological issues. It can be used on its own, particularly with
children, or along with other therapies and medications.

To get the most out of play therapy, look for a licensed mental health
professional experienced in this type of therapy. Your pediatrician or
primary care doctor can make a referral.

If you don’t already have a mental health professional, the Healthline

FindCare tool can help you find one in your area.

You may also choose to search for a credentialed registered play

therapist (RPT) or registered play therapist-supervisor (RPT-S) through the
Association for Play Therapy.

Last medically reviewed on October 11, 2019

Parenthood Health & Well-being

How we reviewed this article:

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Behavioral Therapy
Medically reviewed by Jacquelyn Johnson, PsyD. — By Ana Gotter and Molly
Burford — Updated on March 17, 2022

Who benefits Types Techniques Effectiveness For children

Finding a therapist

What is behavioral therapy?

Behavioral therapy is an umbrella term for types of therapy that treat
mental health disorders.

This form of therapy looks to identify and help change potentially self-
destructive or unhealthy behaviors. It’s based on the idea that all
behaviors are learned and that behaviors can be changed. The focus of
treatment is often on current problems and how to change them.
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Who can benefit from behavioral therapy?

Behavioral therapy can benefit people with a wide range of disorders.

People most commonly look for behavioral therapy to treat:

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depression
 anxiety
panic disorders

disorders involving excessive anger, like intermittent explosive

disorder

It can also help treat conditions and disorders like:

eating disorders
post-traumatic stress disorder

bipolar disorder

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

phobias, including social phobias

obsessive compulsive disorder

self-harming behavior, like cutting

substance use disorders

This type of therapy can benefit adults and children.

Types of behavioral therapy

There are a number of different types of behavioral therapy.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy is extremely popular. It combines behavioral

therapy, which focuses on patterns of action, with cognitive therapy,
which focuses on patterns of thought.

Treatment is centered around how your thoughts and beliefs influence

your actions and moods. It often focuses on your current problems and
how to solve them. The long-term goal is to build thinking and behavioral
patterns that help you achieve a better quality of life.

Cognitive behavioral play therapy

Cognitive behavioral play therapy is commonly used as a treatment for 

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mental health conditions in children. By watching a child play, a therapist
is able to gain insight into what a child is uncomfortable expressing or
unable to express.

Children may be able to choose their own toys and play freely. They
might be asked to draw a picture or use toys to create scenes in a
sandbox. Therapists may teach parents how to use play to improve
communication with their children.

In this form of play therapy, the therapist also takes a more direct
approach by working with both the child and the caregivers to teach the
child how to cope well and achieve their defined goals. The therapist is
doing more than just watching the child play.

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)

ACT is a type of psychotherapy that includes behavioral analysis

performed by a mental health clinician. While sometimes compared with
CBT, ACT has its own specific approach. ACT is based on relational frame
theory, which focuses on mental processes and human language.

In ACT, people are taught mindfulness skills and acceptance strategies

with the goal of increasing psychological flexibility. Additionally,
commitment and behavior change methods are used.

Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)

DBT was created by Dr. Marsha Linehan to help treat the symptoms of
borderline personality disorder (BPD), an emotional regulation disorder
marked by suicidal behavior, depression, unstable personal relationships,
and other symptoms.

DBT can also be helpful for conditions other than BPD.

DBT consists of four elements, known as modules:

core mindfulness

interpersonal effectiveness, which is used to improve relationships

with others and yourself

emotional regulation
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distress tolerance
People receiving DBT are taught skills and coping strategies to help them
lead healthier, happier lives.

Some techniques used in behavioral therapy

Systematic desensitization

Systematic desensitization is a process that helps you to become less

sensitive to certain triggers. It relies heavily on classical conditioning, a
type of unconscious and automatic learning that creates behavior. It’s
often used in the treatment of phobias.

During treatment, you’re taught to replace your fear responses with

relaxation responses, which begins with learning relaxation and breathing
techniques.

Once you’ve mastered these techniques, your therapist will have you face
your fear or fears at slowly increasing levels while you use these
techniques.

Aversion therapy

Aversion therapy is often used to treat disorders like substance use

disorder and alcohol use disorder. It works by teaching people to
associate a stimulus (something that triggers a response) that’s pleasant
but unhealthy with an extremely unpleasant stimulus.

The unpleasant stimulus may be something that causes discomfort. For

example, a therapist may teach you to associate alcohol with an
unpleasant memory.

Is behavioral therapy effective?

Behavioral therapy has successfully been used to treat a large number of
conditions. It’s considered to be extremely effective.

About 75 percent of people who enter cognitive behavioral therapy

experience some benefits from this treatment.
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A 2012 study  found that cognitive behavioral therapy is most effective

when treating:
 anxiety disorders

general stress

bulimia

anger-related disorders

somatoform disorders, like somatic symptom disorder, in which

bodily symptoms without an underlying physical cause are
experienced

depression
substance use disorders

Studies have shown that play therapy is very effective in children ages 3
to 12 years. But this therapy is increasingly being used in people of all
ages.
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Behavioral therapy for children

Applied behavioral therapy and play therapy are both used for children.
Treatment involves teaching children different methods of responding to
situations more positively.

A central part of this therapy is rewarding adaptive behaviors that benefit

a child’s functioning and discourage maladaptive behaviors, or those that
interfere with a child’s best possible functioning.

This therapy often requires multiple people in a child’s environment to be

committed to theA Dprocess, including parents, teachers, and other
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important figures.
It may take children some time to trust their counselor. This is to be
expected.

With time, patience, and focus on building trust, a child may warm up to
the point of being able to fully express themselves. This also is heavily
dependent on the age of the child.

Autistic children with ADHD often benefit from behavioral therapy.

How to find a behavioral therapist

Finding a therapist can feel overwhelming, but there are many resources
that can make it easier.

When finding a therapist or mental health professional, you can choose

from:

social workers

faith-based counselors

non-faith-based counselors

psychologists

psychiatrists

You should make sure that the therapist you choose has the necessary
certifications and degrees. Some therapists will focus on treating certain
conditions, like eating disorders or depression.

If you don’t know how to get started with finding a therapist, you can ask
a general practitioner, a doctor who treats a broad range of conditions, for
a recommendation. The general practitioner may recommend a
psychiatrist if this is appropriate for you.

Psychiatrists are able to write prescriptions for medication if they think

you might benefit from it. The Healthline FindCare tool can also provide
options in your area if you need help finding a therapist.

Most insurance plans will cover therapy for mental health conditions.
Some therapists offer grants or sliding-scale payment options for

individuals from Alow-income
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households.
A therapist will ask you many detailed questions in order to accurately
assess your concerns and formulate a specific treatment plan.

You’ll know you’ve found the right therapist when you feel comfortable
talking with them and are experiencing the gains or improvements you’ve
been looking for. You may have to meet with several therapists before
you find the right one.

Last medically reviewed on March 17, 2022

How we reviewed this article:

SOURCES HISTORY

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we
update our articles when new information becomes available.
Current Version

Mar 17, 2022

Medically Reviewed By
Jacquelyn Johnson, PsyD.

Sep 29, 2018

Written By
Ana Gotter, Molly Burford

Edited By
John Bassham

Copy Edited By
Christina Baswell

VIEW ALL HISTORY 

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