How is Play Therapy different from Therapeutic Play?

At The Heart & Mind Collective, we believe in the power of play to support children’s emotional and developmental growth. However, it's important to distinguish between play therapy and therapeutic play, as each serves unique purposes and involves different levels of professional training.

◾Play Therapy:

Administered by: A highly trained and qualified mental health professional, such as a psychologist, social worker, or counselor, with specialised training and supervision in play therapy.

Purpose: It is a formal psychotherapy that uses play as the primary medium to help clients, often children, resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth.

Approach: Utilises systematic theoretical models (e.g., psychodynamic, cognitive-behavioural) to interpret the child's play, gaining insights into their emotions and experiences.

◾Therapeutic Play:

Administered by: Trained support persons like parents, teachers, or child life specialists, who may not have the same depth of clinical training as play therapists.

Purpose: Focuses on helping individuals express thoughts and cope with challenges through structured play, often achieving specific, immediate goals.

Approach: More structured and goal-oriented with activities targeting particular needs, though not as deep in psychological exploration as play therapy.

Both play therapy and therapeutic play are valuable in nurturing a child's emotional well-being, yet they differ in scope and depth. If you believe your child could benefit from play therapy, book an appointment with us today.