School-Based Play Therapy

School-based play therapy is a therapeutic approach where trained professionals, such as School Counselors or School Social Workers, utilize play as a primary means of communication and intervention to help students address a variety of emotional, social, and behavioral challenges within the school environment.

How Play Therapy Helps in Schools

Play therapy in schools can help children cope with difficulties such as:

Emotional regulation: Managing anger, anxiety, sadness, and other strong emotions.
Social skills: Developing communication, cooperation, empathy, and conflict resolution skills.
Behavioral problems: Addressing issues like aggression, defiance, and hyperactivity.
Trauma and loss: Processing experiences like grief, divorce, abuse, or other difficult events.
Developmental delays: Supporting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, or learning disabilities in their social and emotional development.

Why It Works

Through play, children can express feelings, work through challenges, and build the skills they need to thrive academically and socially—all in a safe, supportive school setting.