5 Common Misconceptions About Play Therapy – And the Truth Behind Them
Play therapy is one of the most developmentally appropriate and effective tools for helping children navigate emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges—but it’s often misunderstood. If you're a parent or caregiver curious about what play therapy actually is (and isn't), you’re not alone.
Let’s bust some common myths so you can better understand what this powerful therapy can really offer your child.
❌ Misconception #1: “Play therapy just means playing while doing talk therapy.”
✅ Truth: The play itself is the therapy.
Play therapy isn’t just about keeping a child engaged before the “real work” starts. Play is the real work. Trained play therapists understand how to:
Interpret play themes
Co-regulate with the child
Facilitate therapeutic shifts through metaphor, modeling, and relational safety
Every part of the session—from how a child sets up a toy to how they interact—is rich with meaning. Some sessions may involve more talking, others less—and that’s developmentally appropriate and totally okay.
❌ Misconception #2: “It’s just playing around.”
✅ Truth: Play therapy is purposeful and deeply therapeutic.
Play is how children make sense of the world. It’s how they process emotions, rehearse life experiences, and integrate challenges. In play therapy, therapists intentionally:
Track and respond to play to deepen awareness
Reflect back feelings and body cues
Create opportunities for emotional regulation and insight
Sometimes it is fun. Sometimes it’s really hard work. Either way, it’s not just play—it’s healing through play.
❌ Misconception #3: “Play therapy is only for little kids.”
✅ Truth: Play therapy is for kids and teens of all ages (and can even be helpful for adults).
While younger children may express themselves through imaginative play or toys, older kids and adolescents "play" in different ways. That might look like:
Telling stories or using metaphor
Engaging in expressive arts or sandtray
Exploring relationship dynamics and nonverbal communication
In Synergetic Play Therapy, the focus is on the relationship and the child’s nervous system—not just the toys. Sessions are always adapted to each child’s developmental stage, interests, and strengths.
❌ Misconception #4: “Talk therapy is more effective.”
✅ Truth: Play therapy meets children where their brains are developmentally.
Children’s brains aren’t built for long verbal processing—especially when they’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or dysregulated. The emotional brain develops well before the parts of the brain that control language, making play therapy far more accessible and effective for younger clients.
That’s why so many children struggle in traditional talk therapy and thrive in play-based approaches. We’re speaking their native language: play.
❌ Misconception #5: “Play therapy doesn’t teach skills.”
✅ Truth: Play therapy helps children build emotional awareness, regulation, and resilience—experientially.
Children learn best by doing and watching, which is exactly what play therapy offers. Through modeling, repetition, and emotional safety, kids gradually:
Develop emotional language and body awareness
Try out new coping strategies
Rehearse healthier ways of responding to stress or relationships
Each session is tailored to the child’s goals—and while it may look different than a traditional “skills group,” it’s absolutely building the foundation for long-term growth and resilience.
💡 Still Curious About Play Therapy?
If you’re wondering whether play therapy could help your child, I’d love to connect. Whether you're navigating anxiety, big emotions, school struggles, or trauma, you're not alone—and you don't have to figure it all out on your own.
📞 Click the button below now to schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation. Let’s explore whether this is the right next step for you and your child.