Play Therapy Explained for Future Child and Adolescent Counselors

Children don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling. A frightening experience, family conflict, or overwhelming emotion may be difficult for a young child to describe directly. Children’s actions, choices and play can sometimes communicate what words cannot.

Play therapy gives counselors a structured way to understand and respond to young clients’ communication. Through play, creative activities, and other interactive approaches, counselors can help children express difficult experiences, explore emotions, and develop healthier ways to respond to challenges.

The need for effective mental health care for young people is significant. In 2023, caregivers reported that about one in five adolescents needed treatment or counseling beyond care for a currently diagnosed condition.¹ Among those adolescents, only 39% were able to access needed care easily.¹ A larger workforce of counselors prepared to work with children and adolescents can help more young people get the support they need.

This guide explores how play therapy works, some techniques counselors may use, and the preparation required to work responsibly with young people.

What is Play Therapy in Counseling?

The Association for Play Therapy defines play therapy as the systematic use of a theoretical model and the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve healthy development.² Play is not simply an activity added to a counseling session. Counselors use it purposefully, with established methods and specific treatment goals.

Traditional talk therapy often depends on a client’s ability to identify emotions, think abstractly, and describe experiences in words. For younger children who are still developing those abilities, play therapy provides a therapeutic approach suited to their experience and understanding of the world.

Counselors most often use play therapy with children ages three to 12. They can adapt some approaches for adolescents,² and their assessment extends beyond what happens during an individual activity or session. They look at family relationships, culture, school experiences, peer relationships, and other influences on a young person’s growth. Together, these factors provide important context for understanding the child’s emotions, behavior, and experiences.

Essential Child Counseling Techniques

A child’s age, level of maturity, and individual needs, along with the goals of therapy, help determine which counseling techniques are appropriate. Play therapy, therefore, does not follow a single method.

In non-directive or child-centered play therapy, the child chooses activities; the counselor follows the child’s lead and observes and reflects emotions within appropriate boundaries.³ This approach gives the child considerable freedom to determine what happens during play. Concerns and recurring themes may emerge as the child makes choices and interacts with toys, materials, or the counselor.

Directive approaches give the counselor a more active role. The counselor selects an activity or exercise that supports a particular therapeutic objective. For example, the counselor might use role-play to help an adolescent practice asking a parent a difficult question or responding to a challenging interpersonal situation.³

Counselors may also incorporate play into established therapeutic approaches. In cognitive-behavioral play therapy, for example, a counselor might use a puppet or character to model gradual exposure to a fear and demonstrate a more adaptive response.³ Art can provide another avenue for expression as a counselor invites a child to explore emotions connected with the creative process.⁴

Counselors interpret what happens during play in light of the child’s broader experiences. Rather than drawing conclusions from a single activity or behavior, they look for patterns across sessions and consider the child’s history, clinical information, and caregiver input. That context becomes especially important when a child has experienced trauma. Trauma-informed counseling techniques can help counselors create an environment that supports the child’s sense of choice and emotional safety.

The Impact of Child and Adolescent Counseling

The need for mental health counselors continues to grow. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 18% employment growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors between 2025 and 2035, with an average of about 50,500 openings each year during that time.⁵ Within that growing field, counselors who work with children and adolescents have opportunities to support young people at a formative time in their lives.

Timely treatment can have effects that extend beyond an immediate concern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that early diagnosis and appropriate services can make a difference in the lives of children with mental health conditions. Effective treatment can help children experience fewer problems at home, at school, and in their friendships. It can also promote their well-being as they grow into adulthood.⁶

Counselors contribute to that work one relationship at a time. They can help young clients recognize and express emotions, develop coping and emotional regulation skills, and learn when and how to seek support. Those skills can continue to serve them as they encounter new relationships, experiences, and challenges throughout their lives.

Preparing for a Specialized Counseling Career

Effective work with children and adolescents requires more than compassion and an ability to connect with young people. Future counselors need to build a strong foundation in human development, assessment, diagnosis, counseling theory, ethics, and evidence-based practice. They also need opportunities to gain clinical experience under the guidance of experienced professionals.

Mental health counselors typically need to complete a master’s degree and an internship, and all states require mental health counselors to hold a license.⁵ Specific licensure requirements vary, so prospective counselors should review the standards in the state where they plan to practice.

Supervised clinical experience is a critical part of that preparation. The current Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) standards require accredited entry-level programs to include at least a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship.⁷ These experiences give future counselors opportunities to work directly with clients, receive feedback, and develop their professional judgment under supervision.

That judgment matters in play therapy. Counselors must observe carefully without drawing conclusions from isolated behaviors, choose interventions for a clear clinical purpose, and recognize the limits of what an activity can reveal.

Build a Career Helping Young People Thrive

Young people need counselors who can meet them at their developmental level while bringing clinical knowledge, sound judgment, and empathy to the therapeutic relationship. Graduate education can help you develop the skills to do that work well.

Through Marquette University’s online Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, you can choose a Child and Adolescent Counseling specialization focused on work with younger clients. In the 60-credit program, you’ll combine foundational clinical study with specialized coursework and supervised clinical experience. The curriculum reflects Marquette’s Jesuit commitment to service, social justice, and respect for human dignity.

As a graduate of this CACREP-accredited online program, you’ll meet Wisconsin’s educational requirements for professional counselor licensure, as well as those of many other states. You can also build relationships with faculty and peers while completing much of your graduate education from wherever you live.

Explore the program’s admission requirements and see how Marquette can help you build a career serving children, adolescents, and families. When you’re ready to learn more, contact us directly or schedule a call with an admissions outreach advisor.