When children are struggling with anxiety, trauma, grief, or behavioral challenges, they can’t always fully express what they’re going through. Unlike adults, kids often communicate best through actions, not words — and that’s where play therapy comes in.
At Boston Neurobehavioral Associates, our child psychiatry team uses developmentally appropriate methods like play therapy to help children understand and process complex emotions in a safe, supportive environment. We offer child psychiatry throughout Massachusetts, and here’s what you should know if you’re considering play therapy for your child.
It’s often said that play is the language of children, and it’s true. Children learn and communicate through play — and play therapy is a type of psychotherapy designed to help children express thoughts, work through emotions, and develop healthier coping strategies for challenges in their lives.
Guided play sessions with a trained therapist give children the opportunity to use toys, art, storytelling, and role-play to process experiences and express feelings that might be difficult for them to put into words.
Play therapy is especially effective for children aged 3 to 12, and it can also be adapted for teens using creative or expressive activities. Play therapy provides a safe space where children can be themselves, explore their feelings without judgment, and feel seen and understood by a caring adult.
Play therapy is more than just playing, even if that’s how it appears from the outside. It’s a structured, evidence-based approach to help children gain insight into their own feelings, learn regulation skills, and build resilience.
For children who have experienced trauma, abuse, bullying, parental separation, or other life changes, play therapy can provide a safe outlet to process confusion and distress. It can also be helpful for children dealing with anxiety, ADHD, depression, behavioral outbursts, or those with difficulty adjusting to school or social settings.
During therapy, your child’s therapist observes how they interact with the play materials and guides the session to support emotional expression, problem-solving, and healthy communication.
For example, a six-year-old child who recently experienced a parental divorce might use dolls to act out scenes of family conflict and separation. Throughout this imaginative play, the therapist gently asks questions and observes patterns to help the child express emotions like sadness, anger, and confusion in a safe, age-appropriate way.
Over time, play therapy can help children gain confidence to confront fears, practice new behaviors, and develop stronger emotional awareness, all in a way that feels natural and engaging to them.
If your child is showing signs of emotional distress, play therapy could be a helpful part of their care plan. Emotional distress can manifest as frequent tantrums, withdrawal, changes in sleep or appetite, separation anxiety, trouble at school, and more — and early intervention can make a big difference.
Working with a child psychiatrist or licensed therapist helps you make sure your child receives the right support at the right time, and our team at Boston Neurobehavioral Associates is experienced in meeting the unique developmental and emotional needs of children and teens.
Whether through play therapy, behavioral therapy, or comprehensive psychiatric care, we partner with families to help children thrive. If you’re interested in learning more about our play therapy services in Massachusetts, contact us today to schedule an evaluation.
