Parenting a child who is experiencing emotional, behavioral, or social challenges can feel overwhelming. Many parents come to Heritage Counseling & Consulting wanting to better understand what their child is feeling, why certain behaviors are showing up, and how to support them at home. Play therapy is an effective, developmentally attuned way to help children express their inner world and build the tools they need to thrive.
At Heritage, our approach to play therapy is structured, intentional, relational, and deeply child-centered. This guide provides an overview of what to expect when beginning play therapy and helps set expectations for parents and caregivers.
The First Step: Parent Consultation
Before meeting with the child, parents or caregivers meet individually for an initial consultation. This session is one of the most important parts of the play therapy process.
During this meeting, we:
Explore your child’s emotional, behavioral, and relational patterns
Identify routines, strengths, challenges, and family dynamics
Discuss your concerns, observations, and hopes for therapy
Gather developmental and contextual history
Set collaborative goals for your child and the family
Parents often feel relief after this session, as it provides clarity and helps build a shared understanding before the child ever walks into the playroom.
This consultation is also an opportunity to explain how play therapy works and why it is effective, helping parents feel grounded, informed, and confident in the process from the start.
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is an evidence-based form of counseling that uses play, the natural language of children, to help them express feelings, process experiences, and develop regulation skills. Children often struggle to express complex feelings through words alone. Through toys, art, storytelling, games, or sand tray activities, children can explore emotions, solve problems, and work through difficult experiences.
For example, your child might not sit down and say, “I feel anxious when…,” but they may show it through pretend play, drawing, role-play, or sensory/movement activities.
At Heritage, we view play therapy through two key lenses:
Play as a Microcosm of the Child’s Inner World
The playroom becomes a symbolic representation of the child’s internal experiences. Through metaphor, themes, and story, children show:
Worries
Relationship patterns
Power and control dynamics
Fears
Unresolved experiences
Emotional needs
Coping strategies
These patterns give counselors valuable insight into what is happening beneath behaviors.
Play as a Practice Ground for Regulation and Skills
The playroom is also a safe space where children:
Practice emotional expression
Learn regulation strategies
Build frustration tolerance
Navigate limits and boundaries
Strengthen communication
Develop problem-solving skills
Experience co-regulation with a responsive presence
The therapeutic relationship itself becomes a central intervention, with the counselor offering attuned, regulated, and responsive interactions that support safety, connection, and emotional growth.
Who Conducts Play Therapy?
Play therapy is typically provided by trained counselors, therapists, or social workers with specialized training in:
Child development
Emotional regulation
Relational and attachment work
Symbolic play themes
Therapeutic techniques
Counselors create a safe environment where children can explore their feelings without judgment. At Heritage, our approach blends structure with child-led exploration, following the child’s pace while thoughtfully guiding the therapeutic process based on observed themes and needs.
What Happens During a Play Therapy Session?
A Safe, Child-Centered Playroom
Heritage playrooms are intentionally curated. These are not simply “toys,” but therapeutic tools selected to represent a full range of emotions, roles, relationships, and experiences. Materials may include:
Art supplies
Nurturing toys
Aggressive-release toys
Building materials
Sensory toys
Sand trays
Figurines
Dollhouses
Dress-up items
Mastery games
Each item supports expression, symbolism, and regulation. The counselor observes and engages with your child while allowing them the freedom to explore and play. The goal is to help your child feel comfortable and understood.
Trust and Relationship Building
The first several sessions focus on connection. A strong therapeutic relationship is the foundation of effective play therapy.
During this phase, the counselor:
Follows the child’s lead
Mirrors emotional experiences
Observes themes and patterns
Creates safety through predictability and attunement
This time allows children to feel secure enough to engage fully in the therapeutic process.
Expression Through Play
Once trust is established, children begin using play to communicate feelings and experiences they may not have words for. This might include:
Acting out scenarios
Recreating conflict
Using certain figures repeatedly
Expressing nurturing or aggression
Building worlds in sand trays or dollhouses
Creating predictable storylines
These expressions provide insights into the child’s emotional world. Counselors then integrate interventions to help children:
Understand and regulate feelings
Try new coping strategies
Explore solutions to challenges
Practice communication
Build confidence and emotional vocabulary
Ongoing Goal Work and Progress Monitoring
Play therapy is goal-oriented. Counselors work with families to set measurable objectives, such as improving emotional regulation, reducing anxiety, or enhancing social skills. Throughout the process, counselors:
Track progress
Adjust interventions as needed
Update parents
Reinforce skills emerging in sessions
Monitor changes in themes and emotional patterns.
Parent Consultations
Every 4-6 sessions (frequency determined by the counselor), parents meet without the child present. These meetings help:
Review progress and emerging themes
Discuss what the child is communicating through play
Explore what is or is not working at home
Strengthen routines, boundaries, and structure
Address challenges (screen time, transitions, communication, power struggles)
Introduce parent-based strategies that complement therapy
Parent involvement is essential. When the family system and the counseling room work together, children progress more meaningfully.
How Parents Can Support Play Therapy
Although parents are not usually present during play sessions, they play a crucial role in supporting therapy at home. Ways to help include:
Maintain consistent routines to provide stability for your child
Encourage open communication by asking about feelings and listening without judgment; validate rather than problem solve
Follow recommendations from the counselor, such as modeling calm communication, reinforcing coping strategies, or setting healthy boundaries
Attend parent sessions to stay informed about your child’s progress and implement recommended interventions
Avoid pressuring your child to provide a “report” on how their session went or what they did
Signs Play Therapy May Be Beneficial
Play therapy can be helpful for children experiencing a variety of challenges. Some signs include:
Frequent emotional outbursts or difficulty managing or communicating feelings
Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities they usually enjoy
Anxiety, sadness, or fear that interferes with daily life
Behavioral issues at home or school
Difficulty coping with trauma, grief, or significant life changes
Frustration or perfectionism
Trouble adjusting to transitions
Final Thoughts
Play therapy offers children a safe, developmentally attuned space to express feelings, practice coping skills, and make sense of their emotional world. Understanding what to expect can help parents feel more confident and supportive throughout the process.
If you are considering play therapy for your child, reaching out to a trained counselor can help you learn more and find a therapist who meets your family’s needs.
Contact Heritage Counseling today at 214-363-2345 to speak with a counselor about play therapy and how it can support your child’s emotional and behavioral growth.