Play is a creative and adventurous activity that comes naturally to children. It is a time where they can feel alive, entering a world that is entirely their own. Therapists can sometimes utilize something called Play Therapy into counseling sessions as a way to build trust and safety.
In relation to this, Theraplay is a concept that basically incorporates play with parental figures. Its differences, however, are that Play Therapy is normally child-led, meaning the direction of play is following what the child wants. Theraplay is where caregivers and the therapist control the narrative of play, encouraging the child to use words and feelings rather than objects for expression.
So what exactly are Play Therapy and Theraplay? And how do they help children feel safe, loved, and connected?
What Is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is a form of therapy that uses a child’s natural language—play—to help them express their feelings, process potential trauma, and build coping skills.
Children may not be able to verbally say, “I’m feeling anxious because my parents are fighting,” but they can act it out through toys or role-play.
Key Components of Play Therapy
- Non-Directive Techniques: The child leads the session while the therapist observes and supports.
- Symbolic Expression: Toys and drawings can symbolically represent a child’s inner world.
- Safe Space for Emotions: Play becomes a way in which anger, fear, or sadness can be safely explored.
- Therapist Relationship: The therapist joins the child’s world with empathy, modeling safe interactions for the child to witness.
How Play Therapy Supports Attachment
By meeting the child in the safety of their imaginal world, the therapist creates a secure base—mirroring what an ideal caregiver would do. Over time, this can:
- Rebuild trust in caregivers or other adults.
- Support a child’s emotional regulation and their self-awareness.
- Strengthen their self-esteem and identity.
- Promote a sense of safety and connection.
Play Therapy helps children relearn how to relate to others in a healthy, trusting way.
What Is Theraplay?
Theraplay is a structured, attachment-based therapy that uses playful and nurturing interactions to repair the parent-child relationship and help the child feel secure.
Unlike Play Therapy, Theraplay is adult-directed, which means it focuses on relationships rather than utilizing objects for storytelling. It draws from attachment theory and explores the principles of healthy parent-child interactions.
Key Components of Theraplay
- Structure: The adult takes the lead, offering safe activities to do with the child.
- Engagement: Sharing joyful experiences together, like playing a board game or mirroring facial expressions, will foster connection.
- Nurture: Activities that replicate early caregiving—feeding, rocking, or gentle touches—help rewire how children experience comfort.
- Challenge: Adults present small, achievable tasks and support the child as they complete it to build confidence.
Theraplay often feels like playing simple games, but each activity is strategically chosen by the caregiver and therapist to activate secure attachment.
How Theraplay Supports Attachment
Theraplay is designed to mimic secure attachment. Over time, this kind of interaction helps reshape the child’s way of forming healthy relationships.
- Repeated positive interactions can change attachment disruptions.
- Children learn to regulate themselves in times of high emotion by self-soothing or seeking comfort.
- Caregivers learn to be more responsive and emotionally available to children.
- Mutual trust is rebuilt through play.
Integrating Play Therapy and Theraplay in Practice
Many therapists blend elements of both approaches, depending on the child’s needs and therapeutic goals.
- Play Therapy allows space for safe emotional exploration and processing.
- Theraplay strengthens the parent-child bond and encourages attachment repair.
- Together, they offer a powerful tool belt to support healing from relationship wounds.
Both of these approaches recognize that healing for children doesn’t just happen through talking—it happens through secure relationships, emotional safety, and play. Reach out today for further information on how these techniques can be custom-fit for you and your child.
