Play therapy encourages children to express themselves through play with qualified therapists. It provides tools for children to express difficult thoughts and feelings in a safe environment. Play therapy can help children develop abilities to express themselves constructively, boost confidence, solve problems, foster imagination, and develop social skills. It can be beneficial for children experiencing mental health issues like mood disorders and ADHD, and may be an important part of an overall treatment program.

1. How Play Therapy Benefits
Children
By Provo Canyon School

2. Introduction
• Utah’s Provo Canyon School (PCS) is an intensive
residential treatment facility for youth between the ages
of eight and 17. At Provo Canyon School, elementary-age
youth can receive age-appropriate services, including
play therapy. Play therapy, which encourages children to
express themselves through play with the aid of qualified
therapists, has many proven benefits.
The play therapy approach provides tools for children to
express thoughts and feelings that they may have
difficulty putting into words. In many cases, play therapy
takes place in one-on-one sessions in which a therapist
creates a safe environment for children to explore and
recreate feelings.

3. Play Therapy
• Play therapy can help children develop abilities to
express themselves in constructive ways, boost
confidence, and solve problems. Children also gain
opportunities to foster imagination and develop
stronger social skills through play therapy.
Play therapy can be beneficial to children
experiencing a range of mental health or behavioral
issues, including mood disorders and attention-
deficit/hyperactivity disorder. For some children,
play therapy can be an important component of an
overall treatment program.