The Role of Play in Therapy: Why It’s More Than Just Toys
We get it. You’re paying for therapy and your kid is… building LEGOs. Or dressing up a dollhouse family in absurd little hats. Maybe they’re drawing angry tornadoes or playing “lava monster” with the therapist.
And part of you wants to ask: Are they just playing?
Here’s the truth: yes, they are playing.
And that’s exactly the point.
Play is Your Child’s Native Language
Kids don’t walk into therapy and say, “I’d like to explore the nuances of my anxiety and how school pressure impacts my sense of self.”
They say, “Let’s pretend this shark is the teacher and this Barbie is really mad!”
And then we’re off to the emotional races.
Play is how kids process, test ideas, rehearse roles, and express what’s too big or too blurry to say outright. It’s not a distraction. It’s the work.
What Play Looks Like in Therapy (And Why It Matters)
At Sunburst Psychology, we use play as both a relational bridge and a clinical tool. That might include:
Dollhouse setups that mirror family conflict
Art and drawing to externalize emotion
Pretend play that helps explore fear, control, or power
Board games to work on frustration tolerance
Sensory-based play for regulation
To the untrained eye, it might look like a tea party or a chaotic marble run. Underneath, we’re tracking attachment cues, emotional themes, impulse control, and how your child handles success and failure.
Yes, it’s fun.
Yes, it’s meaningful.
Yes, your child is doing real therapy—even if their hands are covered in kinetic sand.
Play Therapy Helps Kids:
Build emotional literacy (naming and recognizing feelings)
Rehearse healthier responses to stress or conflict
Develop flexibility in thought and behavior
Build trust in safe relationships
Express trauma or anxiety in manageable, symbolic ways
And just as importantly—it makes therapy feel safe. Play lowers the stakes. It invites engagement. It respects where your child is developmentally and emotionally.
For Parents Who Still Want “Progress”
Totally fair. You’re investing time, energy, money. You want to know this isn’t just glorified babysitting with fidget toys.
We’ve got you.
Our therapists work closely with parents in Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, and Mercer Island to translate play into patterns. We share insights. We help you understand what’s showing up in the room—and what you can support at home.
You’ll hear things like:
“They’re working through control issues through their play themes.”
“That shark? It’s probably the substitute teacher from math class.”
“They’re learning to lose gracefully in Candyland. That’s big.”
What We Offer at Sunburst Psychology
Play-based therapy with clinical depth
Integrated approaches (CBT, DBT, attachment-focused) based on age and need
Parent collaboration that makes the therapy stick beyond the session
Support for kids ages 4–17 with anxiety, neurodivergence, emotional intensity, and behavior concerns
Therapy doesn’t have to look serious to be serious.
And sometimes, the most important breakthroughs start with a LEGO shark and a tiny plastic cupcake.