Play Therapy is a structured approach to psychotherapeutic treatment that utilizes the process and tools of play to help young people express themselves in ways that words alone do not always allow. Play equips young people with the language to communicate with and relate to others, as well as provides an outlet for expression and release of strong emotions. Through play, young people can engage in therapy, in a partnership with their therapist, providing them with the corrective emotional experience necessary for growth, development, and healing. Often, play can help children and thosee who have histories of trauma and other adverse life experiences literally “work through” and find ways to productively address and express what they have been through.

Play therapists and those trained to use play therapy in their clinical practice understand how to utilize this powerful tool in a structured, responsive way, and tailor it to the unique treatment needs of the individual with whom they work. Licensed mental health professionals can become nationally registered as play therapists through the Association for Play Therapy, after meeting specialized training and professional experience requirements.

For more information about play therapy or to find a registered play therapist (RPT), please visit the website of the Association for Play Therapy (APT): www.a4pt.org