Your child’s first therapy appointment is coming up, and you’re trying to picture what it will actually look like. Will they have to talk about their feelings? Will someone ask them questions they can’t answer yet? Or will it just look like… play?
You’re not alone in wondering. Many parents feel a mix of hope and worry before their child’s first play therapy session. The good news? That confusion is exactly why play therapy exists—it lets kids process big emotions in the only language they truly speak: play.
Play therapy is a form of counseling designed specifically for children. Instead of relying on words—which can be hard for kids to find—therapists use play as the medium for expression and healing. Through toys, art, movement, and imagination, children “speak” about experiences they can’t yet verbalize.
At Layers Counseling Specialists, we often describe it this way: play is the child’s language, and toys are their words.
This approach is especially effective for kids dealing with anxiety, family changes, grief, trauma, behavioral or social difficulties, and regulation challenges.
The Association for Play Therapy (APT) notes that play therapy can help children “express, regulate, and master emotions” while building healthier coping skills (APT, 2023).
Your child is greeted in a cozy, play-filled room—not a clinical office. The therapist might introduce themselves, explain simple rules (“Toys stay in the room,” “We take turns”), and invite your child to explore.
Early sessions are all about safety and trust. A child who feels safe to play freely will begin revealing the stories behind their behaviors—sometimes without saying a word.
Think of this phase like testing the water before swimming: the therapist isn’t pushing for deep dives yet, just helping your child feel that the space is warm and safe.
Depending on the child’s age and needs, the therapist may offer choices: puppets, a dollhouse, sand tray, art supplies, or games. Sometimes the therapist joins in (“Let’s see what happens if this dragon meets that knight”), and sometimes they observe. In non-directive play therapy, the child leads the play, revealing themes of power, fear, or safety. In directive play therapy, the therapist gently introduces structured activities that support emotional regulation or problem-solving.
This is where the real therapy happens. A child who witnessed fighting at home might use toy animals to act out a battle. A child coping with loss might draw pictures of “missing friends.” A child with anxiety might build a fort where “nothing bad can come in.”
The therapist pays close attention—not just to what’s being played, but to the emotion underneath it. Through play, children rehearse new endings, gain control over scary memories, and experiment with courage. Research from the British Journal of Guidance & Counselling found that children in play therapy show measurable decreases in anxiety and behavioral distress (Ray et al., 2022). It’s the brain’s way of rewiring itself through story.
Each session ends with a predictable transition. The therapist might say, “We have five minutes left,” and help the child put toys back in their “homes.” This routine builds a sense of closure and safety—especially important for children with trauma or anxiety, whose nervous systems crave predictability.
Over time, children begin to anticipate this structure and internalize calm transitions—skills that transfer to school, bedtime, and daily life.
After the session, the therapist may meet briefly with you to share themes or insights—without breaching your child’s privacy. For example, they might say, “Your child played out a lot of separation stories today; we’ll keep supporting that through play next time.”
Parents often worry, “But how will I know if it’s working?” Here’s the answer: You’ll start to notice small shifts—more flexible play, fewer meltdowns, stronger emotional language. Progress in play therapy is gentle but steady, like a child building a tower block by block.
Play therapy works because it helps the nervous system relearn safety. When a child acts out scary or confusing moments in a safe space, the brain updates its “files” from danger to safe now. Over time, those repetitive, healing play sequences form new neural pathways—literally rewiring how the child responds to stress.
Neuroscience studies show that symbolic play engages the same limbic-prefrontal circuits involved in emotional regulation (Schore & Schore, 2021). That’s why a child who once panicked at separation can, after weeks of play, wave confidently from the door.
The goal isn’t to become your child’s therapist—it’s to become their safest audience.
At Layers, our registered play therapists create spaces where children can process deep emotions through laughter, art, and imagination. We often integrate play therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and parent-child relational approaches to strengthen emotional regulation, problem-solving, and attachment safety.
Whether your child is struggling after a major change or just needs help understanding big feelings, play therapy offers a bridge from confusion to confidence.
Your child’s healing may look like play—but it’s serious work for their brain and heart. Progress doesn’t always show up in words. Sometimes it shows up in longer hugs, calmer mornings, or fewer nightmares.
If you’re ready to see what play therapy could look like for your family, we’re here to help you take the first step.
Your child’s play might be showing you what their words can’t yet say. We can help you understand.
Contact Layers Counseling Specialists in Plano, Texas to schedule a consultation.
