The Healing Power of Play: How Play Therapy Helps Children Process Trauma

One of the most common and persistent issues that parents and caregivers are faced with is supporting their children as they navigate big emotions - especially when they’ve experienced stress, anxiety, or trauma.

Dr. Garry Landreth shares in his book Play Therapy: The Art of Relationship, that:

The natural medium of communication for children is play and activity.

Play therapy provides us with a powerful, evidence-based approach that allows children to express, process, and heal from difficult experiences in a safe and natural way. Our practice, Radish Counseling in Arlington, TX provides specialized support to children ages 3 - 10 through child-centered play therapy.

What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a form of counseling designed specifically for children. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which relies on verbal expression, play therapy meets children where they are - using toys, art, storytelling, and movement to help them communicate and process their thoughts and emotions.

Our playroom at Radish Counseling is thoughtfully designed with specific toys and materials in order to facilitate deep emotional expression.

Your child may particularly benefit from play therapy if they have been struggling with:

• Trauma or stressful experiences
• Anxiety or excessive worry
• Behavioral challenges
• Grief and loss
• Family transitions, such as divorce or a recent move

Why Is Play Therapy So Effective for Trauma?

Children process their world through play. When trauma occurs, it is often stored in the body and subconscious, making it difficult for young children to articulate what they are feeling. Play therapy helps children:

1. Feel Safe & Understood – A play therapist creates a nurturing environment where children feel secure enough to explore their emotions without pressure.
2. Express Emotions Without Words – Play provides an outlet for children to express fears, worries, and memories they may not be able to verbalize.
3. Calm Their Nervous System – Through structured play, children engage in activities that help soothe their bodies, reducing anxiety and emotional distress.
4. Develop Healthy Coping Skills – Play therapy provides children the opportunity to learn how to manage emotions, build confidence, and develop problem-solving skills.

Virginia Axline, one of the leaders in developing play therapy wrote in her book Play Therapy

A play experience is therapeutic because it provides a secure relationship between the child and the adult, so that the child has the freedom and room to state themselves in their own terms, exactly as they are at that moment in their own way and in their own time.

At the heart of play therapy at Radish is the relationship. This form of play therapy, known as child-centered play therapy, has the longest history of use and the strongest research support. It was also defined most recently to be the most commonly used approach by play therapy practictioners.

What to Expect in a Play Therapy Session

Prior to your child’s first play therapy session, our hope is to meet with the caregivers in order to create a trusting and safe environment not only for the child but also for the caregivers. We understand that while we might have the clinical play therapy skills, it is you as the parent or caregiver who is the expert of your own child and family. Our support of you is just as important as the support we will offer you child in play therapy.

During play therapy, you can expect that your child will communicate their experience through play. In play therapy - and in life - a child’s toys are their words and their play is the language they speak. Our play therapy sessions will create a space for your child to learn to express themselves in constructive ways, to control their behavior, to make decisions, and to accept responsibility.

A child’s play therapy time is as sacred as your own experience in talk therapy.

How will I know my child is ready to be finished with play therapy?

Every child is different and the answer to this question is generally “it depends”. However - according to Mary Haworth’s book Child Psychotherapy - some of the indicators that a child might be ready to move on from play therapy include:

👉🏻 Child is less dependent.

👉🏻 Child is less confused.

👉🏻 Child expresses needs openly.

👉🏻 Child is able to focus on self.

👉🏻 Child accepts responsibility for their own actions.

👉🏻 Child limits own behavior appropriately.

👉🏻 Child is more inner-directed.

👉🏻 Child is more flexible.

👉🏻 Child is more tolerant.

👉🏻 Child initiates activities with assurance.

👉🏻 Child is cooperative but not conforming.

👉🏻 Child is expresses anger appropriately.

👉🏻 Child is more accepting of themselves.

How Can Caregivers Support the Play Therapy Process?

Play therapy doesn’t just happen in the therapy room— caregivers are a vital part of the healing journey. Here’s how you can support your child:

• Allow time for free play at home, creating a safe space for self-expression.
• Be patient and observant—children may show progress in small ways, like improved sleep, fewer tantrums, or increased confidence.
• Validate their emotions—acknowledge their feelings, even when they can’t fully explain them.
• Stay engaged in the therapy process—your therapist may offer insights or strategies to reinforce healing at home.

Is Play Therapy Right for Your Child?

If your child has experienced trauma or struggles with big emotions, play therapy may be a life-changing tool for healing. At Radish Counseling, we are here to help your child navigate their emotions in a supportive, empowering way.

📍 Serving families in Arlington, TX, and beyond – Book a free consultation today to learn more about how play therapy can support your child’s journey to healing.

Schedule an Appointment Today

📞 Call: 214.702.8160

📍 Visit: 1907 Ascension Blvd. Suite 500 Arlington, TX 76006

🌐 Book Online: www.radishcounseling.com

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