Play therapy is a mode of therapy that helps children to explore their feelings, to express themselves and to make sense of their life experiences. Play is a child's natural medium to learn, communicate and to explore their world. Recovery from difficult life experiences can be facilitated by a play therapist allowing a child freedom of expression in a safe and trusting environment.

Conventional talking therapies may be inappropriate for children and adolescents who struggle to put their feelings into words. Play therapy allows them the opportunity to explore and understand these feelings. It can enable them to shift their perspective of abuse or difficulty so that they are less likely to internalize blame. The resulting empowerment and increased self-esteem can be the springboard to help the child or adolescent to cope with difficulties in the real world. Children from different cultures, genders and abilities can all be helped by play therapy.