For young children, big feelings rarely arrive as words. They show up as tantrums, withdrawal, trouble sleeping, clinginess, or behavior that seems to come out of nowhere. That is not a child being difficult. It is a child communicating in the only language they fully have yet: play. At TheraHeal Group, we offer play therapy for children in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and we work with families who want their child to feel understood and supported at a developmental level that actually fits them.
Play therapy is a structured, evidence-informed approach that uses play as the primary way to help a child express what they cannot yet put into words. The Association for Play Therapy defines it as “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.”
In practice, that means a trained therapist meets the child in their own world. Through toys, art, sand, storytelling, and imaginative play, the therapist helps the child process difficult experiences, build coping skills, and make sense of emotions that feel too big to hold. It is most often used with children between the ages of three and twelve, though the approach can be adapted for older children as well.
Adults process stress by talking it through. Children do not have that option in the same way, because the parts of the brain responsible for language and reasoning are still developing. Expecting a five-year-old to explain their anxiety the way an adult would is asking them to use a skill they do not have yet.
Play is how children naturally make sense of the world. When a child acts out a scene with figurines, builds and knocks down a tower, or assigns roles in a make-believe game, they are working through real experiences in a way that feels safe. A skilled play therapist reads that language, follows the child’s lead, and gently helps them move toward understanding and emotional regulation. Nothing about it looks like a lecture, and that is exactly why it works.
Play therapy is used both as a primary treatment and as supportive care for a wide range of challenges. According to the Association for Play Therapy, it has been applied to behavioral concerns such as anger, grief and loss, divorce, and trauma, as well as conditions including anxiety, depression, ADHD, and developmental differences.
This matters because childhood mental health challenges are far more common than many parents realize. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that nearly one in five children ages three to seventeen has been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral condition, and that anxiety is among the most commonly diagnosed. If your child is going through something hard, you are not alone, and there is a path forward that speaks their language.
Play therapy for children in Washington DC does not look like adult talk therapy, and it is not supposed to. A typical session takes place in a room set up with carefully chosen toys and materials. The therapist may follow the child’s lead in what is called nondirective play, or gently guide play toward specific goals in a more directive approach, depending on the child and what they are working through.
Over time, the therapist watches for themes and patterns in how the child plays, and uses those observations to help the child build skills like naming feelings, managing frustration, and recovering from setbacks. Progress in play therapy is often gradual and shows up first at home and school, in the form of fewer meltdowns, better sleep, or a child who seems more like themselves again. At TheraHeal Group, sessions are available in person at our DC, Maryland, and Virginia offices, as well as virtually for families who prefer to meet from home.
One of the most consistent findings in the research is that children do best when a parent or caregiver is involved. A widely cited meta-analysis of controlled play therapy studies found a large overall positive treatment effect, and outcomes were strongest when parents actively participated in the process.
That involvement can take many forms, from regular check-ins with the therapist to guided sessions where you and your child play together while the therapist coaches. You do not need to have all the answers. Your role is to be a steady, supportive presence, and a good therapist will show you how. Play therapy is not something that happens to your child in a room you are shut out of. It is a partnership.
If your child has been struggling and you are wondering whether play therapy could help, TheraHeal Group is here for your family. We offer play therapy for children in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, in person and virtually.
Play therapy is most often used with children between the ages of three and twelve. The approach can be adapted for older children and, in some cases, adults, but it is especially well suited to young children who process experiences more naturally through play than through conversation.
Yes. A meta-analysis of controlled outcome studies found a large overall positive effect for play therapy, with the strongest results when a parent or caregiver was actively involved. Research supports its use across a variety of concerns, including anxiety, trauma, grief, and behavioral difficulties.
Look for a licensed mental health professional with specialized training in play therapy, such as a Registered Play Therapist. The Association for Play Therapy maintains resources and a provider directory. If you are in Washington DC, Maryland, or Virginia, you can also contact TheraHeal Group directly to be matched with a therapist experienced in working with children.
Play Therapy: A structured therapeutic approach that uses play as the primary means of helping children express emotions, process experiences, and resolve psychosocial difficulties.
Emotional Regulation: The ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences in a healthy, proportionate way. Building this skill is a common goal of play therapy.
Child Development: The sequence of physical, cognitive, and emotional changes children go through as they grow. Play therapy is designed to meet children at their specific developmental stage.
Sandplay Therapy: A form of expressive play therapy in which a child uses miniature figures and a tray of sand to create scenes that reflect their inner world.
Registered Play Therapist (RPT): A credential awarded by the Association for Play Therapy to licensed mental health professionals who have completed specialized training and supervision in play therapy.
If your child has been struggling and you are wondering whether play therapy could help, TheraHeal Group is here for your family. We offer play therapy for children in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia, in person and virtually.