Child-Centered Play Therapy

At Life Redefined, we offer Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) as a primary approach when working with children. Play isn’t just how children pass time—it’s how they express themselves, process experiences, and make sense of the world. In our warm and welcoming therapy rooms, children are invited to explore their thoughts and emotions through guided, purposeful play.

Whether your child is navigating anxiety, grief, trauma, behavioral challenges, or emotional overwhelm, play therapy offers them a developmentally appropriate space to learn, heal, and grow.

What do you think?

Read the question below and see if you know the answer.

True or False? Child-centered play therapy is the same as my child playing at home alone.

Not quite—this is actually false.
Correct. Not all play is created equal. In child-centered play therapy, the therapist uses play as a clinical tool to help children externalize their internal experiences, work through tough emotions, and build confidence in a safe, structured environment.

Let's take a deeper dive:

(Please scroll over the text to read the full description)

A Deeper Dive: Why Play Therapy Works

One of the most common questions we hear from parents is:"Why do I need to pay a therapist to play with my child? Can’t I just play with them at home?"

It’s a valid question—and a great one. The play that happens in therapy is very different from everyday play at home. Here’s why:

1. Play Is a Child’s Natural Language

Children aren’t always able to verbalize what they’re feeling. But they naturally know how to express themselves through toys, imagination, and storytelling. Across cultures and ages, play is a universal language—and in therapy, it becomes a bridge to help children communicate what they can’t say in words.

If a child is coping with the challenges of chronic illness, bullying, divorce, or trauma, they likely won’t be able to articulate those feelings directly. In play therapy, they can act them out safely, and the therapist helps them process those experiences from the inside out.

2. Play Creates a Safe Environment

For children who feel overwhelmed, anxious, or out of control, play therapy offers safety, freedom, and structure. The therapy space becomes a world where it’s okay to be messy, silly, sad, angry—or all of the above. Even if a child’s play becomes aggressive or confusing, the therapist remains a calm, validating presence who allows space for emotional release.

For example, a child who has experienced abuse or neglect might show this through themed play. In session, our therapists don’t say things like “Don’t play like that.” Instead, we observe with care and curiosity, allowing the child to guide their own healing process at their own pace.

3. Play Teaches Through Experience

We use three core techniques to support learning and emotional development:

Tracking: The therapist narrates and reflects what the child is doing without judgment, helping the child feel seen and understood.
Reflection: We help children name their emotions—"You're stacking the blocks really high... maybe it feels good to have control right now?"—which supports emotional intelligence.
Limit Setting: If a child’s play becomes unsafe or boundary-pushing, we set gentle but clear limits, modeling how boundaries work in the real world.

This process helps children regain a sense of agency and learn how to regulate themselves in daily life.

Back to Specialties

Goals + Objectives:

Here are some goals and objectives for Child-Centered Play Therapy

Provide a space for children that is voluntary, enjoyable, and non-threatening.
Allow the child to use what comes natural to them, play and imagination, to express their inner world.
The child will learn to externalize and express their internal thoughts in hopes to lower any possible anxiety, fear, or a sense of isolation from others.
The child will learn they have a sense of agency (control) over how they respond to various situations that might be tough for them.
Through play therapy, the child will learn to put emotional words to their feelings as they grow and mature.

Next Steps:

Located in the heart of Wheaton, Life Redefined offers your child a welcoming and supportive environment. Our therapists are specially trained in child-centered play therapy and understand the unique needs of children going through tough times. We’re dedicated to helping your child express their emotions, learn new coping strategies, and build resilience through the natural language of play. If you’re considering counseling for your child, reach out to us at Life Redefined. Let’s work together to support your child’s journey toward a brighter future.