What to Expect When Your Child Starts Play Therapy

A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Play Therapy for Kids

When a child is struggling, the instinct to help can arrive alongside a quiet sense of uncertainty. What is actually going on? What kind of support do they need? And what does it mean if play therapy is being recommended?

Those questions are completely understandable. Children do not always have words for what they are carrying. Behavioral changes, emotional outbursts, withdrawal, or difficulty at school can all signal that something is happening internally that needs attention. None of it is a sign of bad parenting. It is a sign that your child may benefit from some additional support.

Play therapy is a natural, child-centered approach that meets children where they are, using the language they already know: play. At Montgomery Counseling Group in Charlotte, Michelle Daley works with children and their families to create the safety and understanding that make real progress possible.

What Is Play Therapy and Why Is It Effective for Children?

Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy designed specifically for children, using play as the primary mode of communication and healing. Adults often process difficult experiences through conversation. Children do it through play. The National Institute of Mental Health provides guidance on child and adolescent mental health and the importance of early intervention.

In a play therapy session, a trained therapist creates a safe, carefully designed environment where a child can express emotions, work through confusing or painful experiences, and begin to develop new ways of coping. The child leads the play. The therapist observes, reflects, and gently guides the process.

This approach is effective precisely because it does not ask children to do something that is developmentally out of reach. It meets them where they naturally are, and in doing so, creates the conditions for genuine growth.

Signs Your Child May Benefit from Play Therapy

Children communicate through behavior more than through words. Understanding anxiety in children, its signs, causes, and solutions can help parents recognize when additional support is needed. Some signs that a child might benefit from play therapy include:

Difficulty identifying or expressing emotions
Behavioral changes such as increased tantrums, withdrawal from others, or persistent irritability
Anxiety, new fears, or significant difficulty adjusting to changes at home or school
Struggles with peers, social situations, or transitions
A recent experience of loss, change, or stress that seems to be affecting their daily life

Early support tends to make a meaningful difference. Children are remarkably resilient, and the sooner they have a space to process what they are experiencing, the more easily those experiences can be worked through rather than carried forward.

How Play Therapy Supports Emotional and Behavioral Growth

Play therapy is not simply supervised play. It is purposeful, clinically guided work that builds skills children will carry well beyond the therapy room.

Through play therapy, children develop:

A greater capacity to identify and express what they are feeling
Emotional regulation skills that help them manage big feelings without being overwhelmed by them
Confidence in their own problem-solving and decision-making
Healthier communication with peers, siblings, and caregivers
A secure internal sense of self that supports resilience over time

These gains often show up not just in the therapy room but at home, at school, and in friendships.

Play Therapy for Kids with ADHD: How It Can Help

Children who live with ADHD often navigate daily life with particular intensity. Play therapy offers something valuable for these children: a structured environment that does not require them to sit still, stay quiet, or suppress who they are. For parents navigating this, resources on anger management for teenagers can also offer useful strategies to use alongside therapy.

Instead, it works with their natural energy, using purposeful activities to build skills in self-regulation, impulse management, and social connection.

Because sessions are individualized, the therapist can adjust the pacing, the activities, and the level of structure to fit each child. For many children with ADHD, that sense of being understood and accommodated, rather than corrected, is itself part of what makes the work effective.

Looking for play therapy support for a child with ADHD?

Reach out to schedule a consultation with Michelle Daley at Montgomery Counseling Group.

Common Play Therapy Activities for Kids

The specific activities used in play therapy are always chosen with intention. They are not freeform; they are guided by the therapist’s clinical observations and the child’s individual needs. Some approaches commonly used include:

Role-playing and imaginative play, which allow children to try out different perspectives, rehearse difficult situations, and safely express experiences they may not have words for yet
Art-based expression through drawing, painting, or collage, which offers a nonverbal outlet for emotions that can be hard to name
Sand tray exploration, where children use miniature figures and a tray of sand to create scenes that can reveal inner experiences in a gentle, projective way
Therapeutic games that build emotional vocabulary, turn-taking, and frustration tolerance
Storytelling and puppetry, which create distance from difficult feelings while still allowing them to be explored

The child does not need to understand why a particular activity is being used. The therapist holds that awareness and works within it.

What to Expect from a Play Therapy Session

Many parents wonder what actually happens during a session. Our FAQs page also covers common questions families have before getting started. Here is a general picture of what the process tends to look like.

Initial Assessment

Before regular sessions begin, the therapist will meet with parents to gather background on the child’s history, current concerns, and goals for therapy. Understanding the full context helps guide the work.

Building Safety

Early sessions focus on helping the child feel comfortable in the space and with the therapist. Trust is not assumed; it is built over time through consistency and attunement.

Active Work

As the child settles in, sessions become more engaged. The therapist follows the child’s lead while gently introducing activities or observations that deepen the work.

Gradual Progress

Growth in play therapy is rarely sudden. It tends to accumulate, with changes becoming visible in behavior, emotional expression, and relationships over weeks and months.

Parent Communication

Therapists typically check in with parents regularly to share observations, discuss progress, and offer guidance for supporting the child at home.

Working with a Therapist in Charlotte

Michelle Daley, LCMHC, specializes in play therapy for children and adolescents at Montgomery Counseling Group in Charlotte. She draws on play therapy alongside Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to support children who have experienced trauma, as well as person-centered and child-directed approaches that honor each child’s individual pace and way of moving through the world. As a Navy Veteran, Michelle brings a particular understanding of resilience, service, and the strength that families carry even in difficult seasons.

In sessions with Michelle, children are never pushed. They are accompanied. Progress unfolds in the context of a relationship that feels safe, and parents are kept meaningfully involved throughout.

Michelle works as part of an integrated clinical team at Montgomery Counseling Group. When children’s challenges intersect with broader family dynamics, Taylor Banner’s work in family and relationship counseling offers a natural complement. For deeper trauma processing, founder John Burns provides advanced Trauma Therapy and EMDR. Naila McConnell brings Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and mindfulness-based support for adolescents navigating emotional regulation. Moriah Yager works with anxiety, depression, and life transitions using a person-centered, CBT-informed approach, offering steady support for adolescents and caregivers alike. Javontae Bradley provides trauma-informed, culturally responsive care with a particular focus on men’s mental health. The whole team holds the broader picture.

How Parents Can Support Their Child During Therapy

A parent’s role in play therapy matters more than many families realize. You do not need to be in the room for your presence and approach at home to shape the work.

Encourage open conversation without pushing for details about sessions. Let your child share what they feel comfortable sharing, and follow their lead.
Maintain consistency in routines. Predictability is grounding for children, especially those working through difficult experiences.
Practice emotional validation. When a child says they are frustrated or scared, reflecting that feeling back without immediately trying to fix it builds trust and self-awareness.
Be patient with the pace. Change in children can be subtle before it becomes visible. Trust the process, and stay in communication with the therapist.

Frequently Asked Questions About Play Therapy for Kids

What age is appropriate for play therapy?

Play therapy is most commonly used with children between the ages of three and twelve, though it can be adapted for younger children and adolescents as well. A therapist will assess what approach fits a child’s developmental stage, communication style, and individual needs.

How long does play therapy take to show results?

Progress in play therapy unfolds at the child’s own pace. Some children begin showing shifts within a few weeks. For others, meaningful change develops over several months of consistent work. A therapist will check in with parents throughout to share observations and adjust the approach as needed.

Is play therapy helpful for children with ADHD?

Yes. Play therapy can be particularly supportive for children who live with ADHD, helping them build skills in emotional regulation, self-control, and social interaction in a structured, engaging environment that fits how they learn and process.

Do parents participate in play therapy sessions?

Parent involvement varies depending on the child’s needs and the therapist’s approach. Some sessions include parent check-ins or structured activities together. Others focus on individual time with the child. Your therapist will guide the level of involvement that is most helpful for your child.

How do I find a qualified play therapist in Charlotte?

Look for a licensed mental health professional with specific training in play therapy and experience working with children. You can also review our Rates & Insurance page for information on coverage. Michelle Daley at Montgomery Counseling Group brings both the credentials and the genuine care that families in Charlotte deserve.

If you are exploring play therapy for your child, connecting with a trained play therapist in Charlotte can be a meaningful step toward helping them feel understood, supported, and confident. We would be glad to help you find the right fit.