The Power of Play: How Play Therapy Helps Children Heal

Why Play Therapy?

At Willow and Moss Counseling, we work with a lot of kids who are navigating big feelings, tough transitions, or experiences that have left an emotional mark. And here’s the thing—kids don’t sit down and talk about their stress over a latte. They show us what’s going on through their play.

That’s where play therapy comes in. It’s not just playing for the sake of playing—it’s a specialized, intentional way of helping kids process, heal, and grow in a way that actually works for where they’re at developmentally. When talking doesn’t cut it (and often it doesn’t), play gives them a language that makes sense.

Okay, So What Is Play Therapy?

Play therapy meets kids on their level—literally and emotionally. It gives them the tools they already use to make sense of their world: toys, art, storytelling, imagination. Instead of forcing them to explain what’s going on, we let the play do the talking. As a Registered Play Therapist, I’m trained to track those patterns and use them to support healing, regulation, and skill-building—without making it feel like “work.”

How Does Play Therapy Help?

1. Kids Speak Through Play
Kids don’t always have the words for what’s happening inside—but give them a dollhouse or a sand tray, and you might be surprised what starts to surface. Play helps externalize their inner world in a way that feels safe and manageable.

2. It Builds Emotional Muscles
Through guided play, kids learn how to cope with frustration, name their feelings, and practice handling big emotions. We’re not avoiding the hard stuff—we’re helping them work through it with tools they can actually use.

3. It Repairs Relationships and Builds Trust
For kids who’ve experienced loss, trauma, or disruption in their attachments, play therapy can help rebuild that sense of safety and connection. The relationship with the therapist becomes a kind of “practice ground” for trust and healthy communication.

4. It Encourages Creative Problem-Solving
In play, kids try out different roles, experiment with outcomes, and imagine new possibilities. That process naturally helps them build flexibility, resilience, and the confidence to try again—even when things are hard.

5. It Helps with Anxiety, Big Behaviors, and Self-Regulation
Play therapy gives kids a structured, supportive space to release tension and learn new ways to calm themselves. Over time, you tend to see fewer meltdowns, better coping, and more confidence.

6. It Feels Safe (Because It Is)
Asking kids to talk directly about hard stuff can feel intimidating, even threatening. Play therapy sidesteps that pressure by offering an environment that feels familiar, fun, and non-invasive—so even the most withdrawn or overwhelmed kids can begin to open up.

7. It Grows with Your Child
Play therapy isn’t just for little kids. Older kids and teens benefit from expressive, experiential therapies too—like sand tray, art, role-playing, and metaphor-driven work. These approaches still tap into the creative brain, while giving space for more complex thinking and insight.

Who’s It For?

Play therapy can help with a range of challenges, including:

• Anxiety or emotional overload

• Behavioral struggles (at school, home, or both)

• Life transitions (divorce, moves, new siblings, etc.)

• Grief and loss

• Social or relational difficulties

• Past trauma or scary experiences

If your child seems stuck, overwhelmed, or like they’re carrying something they can’t quite say out loud—play therapy might be the key to helping them get unstuck.

Why We Use Play Therapy at Willow and Moss

Because it works. We’ve seen kids who were shut down, angry, anxious, or acting out begin to regulate their emotions, connect more deeply, and feel more like themselves again. Play gives them a way in—a way to process what’s happening inside without having to translate it into adult language.

And that matters, because kids deserve spaces that make sense for them.

If you’re curious about whether play therapy might be a good fit for your child, We’d be happy to talk through it. No pressure, just information. You don’t have to figure it out alone.

Willow & Moss Counseling – Compassionate Therapy in Cherokee & Cobb County, Serving Woodstock, Holly Springs, Canton, Kennesaw, and Marietta.