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 ADVERTISEMENT 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. ADVERTISEMENT
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
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 ADVERTISEM ENT
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 ADVERTISEMENT
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. SUBSCRIBE 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
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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. ADVERTISEMENT
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
ADVERTISEMENT 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 ADVERTISEMENT
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. ADVERTISEMENT
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. ADVERTISEMENT
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 VERTISEMENT 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 DVERTISEMENT 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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