Play isn’t just something you do in therapy. Play is the therapy.

In young children, complex trauma often manifests as anger outbursts, self-injury, school avoidance, defiance, and even suicidal thoughts. And although cognitive, or top-down, approaches like talk therapy can help, they do not address where trauma is stored: in the body. In Play Therapy Is the Therapy, you’ll find a bottom-up framework for working with kids that is grounded in the foundations of polyvagal theory and play therapy. By drawing on children’s first language – play – this framework inherently creates two of the most important elements that allow for deep healing from trauma: safety and connection. Filled with kid-friendly activities, case studies, and sample scripts, this transformative treatment guide will allow you to harness the power of “polyvagal play” so you can: – Build rapport with children who struggle to trust others, particularly adults – Move past outdated and punitive behavioral management approaches – Reframe “problem” behaviors as adaptive nervous system responses – Use a playful approach to support kids in learning about their nervous system – Create feelings of safety and connection by simply being with your client in session.