Mckenzie Bradford, LSCW: Healing Through Play: Trauma-Informed Play Therapy

McKenzie Bradford, LCSW

Play Therapy Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

Trauma-informed play therapy is a powerful therapeutic approach that offers children a safe space to process and heal from trauma. Unlike traditional talk therapy, which may be difficult for children to engage with, play therapy utilizes the natural medium of play to help children express their feelings, make sense of their experiences, and begin to heal from emotional wounds. By understanding the benefits of play therapy, we can see how it plays a critical role in helping children recover and regain a sense of safety and control.

What is Play Therapy and How Can It Help?

Trauma-informed play therapy combines principles of trauma-informed care with the foundational methods of play therapy. Trauma-informed care recognizes the prevalence of trauma and its profound effects, emphasizing an environment where safety, trust, and empowerment are prioritized. Play therapy provides children with a way to communicate through toys, games, and creative activities, bypassing language limitations and offering a natural outlet for emotions.

In trauma-informed play therapy, therapists are trained to recognize signs of trauma and provide interventions in a way that avoids re-traumatization. This therapy focuses on creating a safe, non-judgmental space where children can regain a sense of control, develop resilience, and learn healthy coping mechanisms. If you’re searching for a kids therapist, finding one with expertise in trauma-informed approaches is key to effective healing.

How Trauma-Informed Play Therapy Helps Children Heal

Building Trust and Safety

For children who have experienced trauma, trust can be difficult to establish. Traditional therapy might feel intimidating, but play therapy offers a non-threatening environment. The therapist encourages the child to engage with play materials (such as dolls, sand trays, or art supplies) that facilitate self-expression. As children play, they often project their feelings and experiences onto the toys and scenarios, creating a space where the therapist can observe and guide the healing process. This approach allows children to rebuild trust in a controlled, supportive setting.

Expression of Emotions

Trauma can make it difficult for children to verbalize their emotions. Play therapy provides a safe outlet for children to express feelings of anger, fear, sadness, or confusion through play, without the pressure of putting complex emotions into words. For example, a child may act out a traumatic event using dolls or toys, offering insight into their emotional state. The act of expressing feelings through play is therapeutic in itself, helping children process and release pent-up emotions.

Restoring a Sense of Control

Trauma often leaves children feeling powerless. Play therapy offers a way to restore a sense of agency. By allowing children to make choices and engage in activities they control, they regain autonomy. In play therapy, a child can dictate the course of their play, make decisions, and choose how they want to express themselves. This empowerment can be incredibly healing, as it helps children feel like they are in control of their environment and their healing process.

Healing Through Creativity

Creativity is an essential tool in the healing process. Play therapy uses art, storytelling, role-playing, and other creative outlets to help children reframe traumatic experiences in a way that feels more manageable. By using their imagination, children can "rewrite" the narrative of their trauma, explore alternative outcomes, and create new, positive associations with difficult experiences.

Enhancing Emotional Regulation

Trauma can interfere with a child’s ability to regulate emotions effectively. Play therapy teaches children coping strategies and helps them practice these skills in a safe environment. Through role-playing and dramatic play, children can learn to identify their emotions, express them constructively, and manage them in real-life situations. These skills are vital for emotional resilience and can have long-term benefits in the child’s overall mental health.

The Role of Play Therapy in Broader Mental Health Treatment

Play therapy is often integrated with other forms of counseling, such as clinical mental health counseling, internal family systems therapy, and interventions for conditions like ADHD treatment for adults and children, treatment-resistant depression, and bipolar disorder treatments. Many therapists use medicine management alongside play therapy to support children’s mental health needs.

For families seeking relationship counseling or marriage counseling near you, play therapy can also help children adjust to changes in family dynamics. Whether parents are in couples therapy, seeking premarital counseling, or undergoing marital counseling near you, supporting a child’s emotional well-being through therapy is crucial.

Finding the Right Therapist for Your Child

If you're looking for a therapist near you specializing in play therapy, it's essential to find one trained in trauma-informed approaches. Whether you need support for childhood ADHD treatment, ADHD medication management near you, or general counseling, finding a compassionate and experienced therapist can make a significant difference in your child’s healing journey.

Final Thoughts

Trauma-informed play therapy offers a powerful way for children to process trauma, build emotional resilience, and regain a sense of control. If you’re searching for good therapists near me who specialize in trauma-focused treatment, consider exploring play therapy options. A well-trained therapist can help children heal, providing them with the tools they need to thrive emotionally and mentally.

-McKenzie Bradform, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Mental Health Therapist in Murray, Utah at Purple Sky Counseling