Stages of Play Therapy
What are the stages of Play Therapy?
If you have found your way here, chances are you’re feeling overwhelmed. Maybe your child is struggling with separation anxiety, refusing school, having big emotional outbursts, or you have noticed changes after a difficult time in your family.
You may have heard on social media or through friends/family the term “play therapy” and how it is beneficial for young children. You may now be wondering:
“What actually happens in play therapy?”
“Is my child just playing?”
“How does this help their emotional wellbeing?”
These are some of the most common questions I hear from parents. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the stages of play therapy, based on Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) and an attachment-focused approach so you can understand exactly how this process supports your child.
Exploratory Stage
Play therapy begins with creating a safe, predictable environment.
In the beginning, your child is working out is this place safe? Can I be myself here? Will this adult understand me? Can I express all my feelings here?
During this stage, you may notice your child exploring the play room, they may engage in surface-level play and may at times look anxious, unsure, cautious or be polite during their play. Your child may start to test limits and the therapists role within the room.
This stage is the foundation for everything that follows, your child will begin to experience something powerful and build a relationship that is based unconditional positive regard.
As we move through the exploratory stage, your child will become more comfortable and their play starts to become more meaningful. Your child starts to say “Let me show you my world” During this stage your child will begin to express their internal world symbolically.
You may see, your child engaging in repetitive play themes, symbolic storytelling and glimpses into their inner world. Children do not process their emotions through talking, they process through play. Play is the language of children! This is how they begin to express things they may not have the words for.
Resistance Stage
Often the longest stage and the stage where often I see parents become worried and at times confused as their child’s deeper emotions emerge often through intense or aggressive play. During this stage you may notice that children become increasingly intense in their play, play can be aggressive chaotic and messy at times. There is often recurrent themes of power, control, justice and rescue narratives.
This is not a setback, this is progress. Your child is beginning to feel safe enough to let their deeper feelings emerge.
I once worked with a young child experiencing separation anxiety with a history of trauma within the family system. In early sessions, play focused on animals, often they were locked up or trapped. As we moved through the stages of play their play shifted and became more intense and at times aggressive, there was recurring themes of power, justice and protection emerging. The young child started to position themselves as the hero, this was their way of processing fear, helplessness and their need for safety.
Over time they were able to begin to regulate their emotions more effectively, using grounding strategies within play and feel safer in their world.
Regressive Stage
As therapy continues, something shifts during this stage. You may notice there is a reduction in chaotic play, it may look more purposeful, child able to regulate after experiencing distress and in turn improve their emotional regulation. This is where we see a child’s nervous system become more regulated, they are beginning to integrate their experiencing rather than being overwhelmed by them.
Mastery Termination Stage
Your child shows resilience, confidence, and improved coping skills and emotional regulation. Play can become more creative than reactive and less repetitive trauma themes. You may see your child lead more confidently, reflect on their feelings and experiencing easier transitions.
The key goal for the therapist during this stage is to consolidate gain and prepare the child for independence and transitioning from the play therapy space.
Play therapy is not linear, this means that children can move back and forth between stages. It is important to remember that the relationship between child and therapist is the intervention.
Parent Support Matters
I incorporate parent sessions using the Circle of Security framework to strengthen your child’s emotional development at home.
If you’re based in South Brisbane, Logan, Beaudesert or surrounding areas, play therapy can be a powerful support for children aged 4–10 experiencing:
Separation anxiety
School refusal
Family transitions
Trauma
Book a free consult to explore how play therapy can support your child.