Supporting Children Through Trauma with Child-Centred Play Therapy

Trauma in childhood can take many forms, from medical procedures and hospital stays, to accidents, losses, or other overwhelming experiences. For young children, who may not yet have the words to describe what happened, trauma can feel confusing, frightening, and isolating. Parents often wonder, 'How can I help my child heal when they can’t talk about it?'  This is where Child-Centred Play Therapy offers a gentle and healing way forward.

Child-Centred Play Therapy, developed and researched by leaders such as Garry Landreth and Dee Ray, is grounded in the understanding that play is a child’s natural language. Through play, children express feelings, make sense of their experiences, and regain a sense of safety and control. Neuroscience research, such as the work of Dr Bruce Perry and Dr Daniel Siegel, reminds us that healing happens in relationships, when children feel safe, seen, and supported in their emotional world. Play therapy provides exactly this kind of healing relationship.

Here are some of the key ways Child-Centred Play Therapy can support children recovering from trauma:

Creating safety and trust – Trauma shakes a child’s sense of safety. In the playroom, children experience a consistent, predictable environment where they feel secure and in control.

Processing experiences – Rather than needing to explain with words, children use toys, symbols, and creative play to process what has happened, at their own pace and in their own way.

Regulating big feelings – With the support of a trained therapist, children practise calming their nervous system, helping them move from survival responses (fight, flight, freeze) to more regulated states.

Restoring confidence and agency – Trauma can leave children feeling powerless. Play therapy helps them rediscover their strengths, make choices, and experience a sense of mastery.

Supporting connection with parents – Parents are guided to understand their child’s behaviours as communication, strengthening attachment and building emotional safety at home.

Healing from trauma is not about erasing what has happened, but about helping a child integrate their experience in a way that allows them to move forward with resilience and hope. As Dr Susan David reminds us, emotions are data, not directives and through play, children learn that all feelings can be expressed, understood, and managed safely.

At Inspiring Play: Play Therapy Sunshine Coast, I offer a safe and nurturing space where children can heal through play. If you are concerned about how your child is coping after a medical experience or other difficult event, please reach out. You don’t have to walk this journey alone,  support is here.