Did you know that play can rewire the brain and help children heal from emotional challenges?
Just as physical pain signals an injury that needs attention, emotional pain is a sign that healing is required. When these emotional pain signals are ignored or numbed, they can result in deeper emotional wounds and long-lasting effects.
Play therapy harnesses the brain’s natural ability to heal by offering a safe, child-led environment where children can process emotions and experiences that are difficult to verbalise. Grounded in neuroscience, play therapy provides children, especially those impacted by trauma or adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), with a powerful way to reframe and heal from overwhelming emotions.
Trauma, the Brain, and Implicit Memory
What happens during trauma or adverse experience?
Trauma is not defined solely by the event itself but by how the individual perceives and experiences it. What feels overwhelming or frightening to one child may not affect another in the same way. For one child, moving to a new home might feel exciting; for another, it could feel destabilising and overwhelming.
When a child perceives something as threatening, whether it’s an actual danger or not, their brain activates the stress response system. The amygdala, the brain’s threat detector, takes over and sends a signal to the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to initiate a survival mechanism of a “fight, flight, or freeze” response, leading to heightened states of fear and anxiety where the child is on edge, ready to react in a protective manner. Even seemingly small or everyday events, such as a caregiver yelling, can be perceived as traumatic depending on the child’s context, emotional state, or past experiences.
If the stress response is activated repeatedly or for extended periods, the brain begins to adapt to this state. The hippocampus, which is responsible for processing memories and distinguishing between past and present, may struggle to function effectively. This can leave children feeling confused, overwhelmed, and stuck in a loop where past traumas feel like they’re happening in the present. In this state, children may have difficulty regulating emotions, concentrating, or feeling safe even in non-threatening situations.
Implicit memory and its impact
Not all memories are the same. While some memories are explicit (like recalling a birthday or a favourite vacation), others are implicit, meaning they are stored without conscious awareness. These memories are formed automatically and tied to our emotions, senses, and bodily experiences.
In traumatic situations, the brain encodes these implicit memories as fragmented pieces rather than coherent narratives. For instance, instead of recalling the full context of a traumatic event, a child may retain flashes of a loud sound, a certain smell, or a feeling of fear. These fragments can later resurface when triggered by a similar sound, scent, or sensation, causing emotional or physical reactions that seem out of proportion to the current situation.
For example, a child who experienced trauma involving a dog might feel an intense sense of fear when they hear barking, even if they don’t consciously remember the original event. These implicit memories, stored in the body and brain, can lead to anxiety, behavioural outbursts, or avoidance, all without the child fully understanding why they feel or act this way.
How Play Therapy Works with the Brain
Research shows that play therapy is an effective way for children to process trauma and emotional difficulties. It provides a safe, non-verbal outlet for exploring and resolving painful memories in a way that feels natural and accessible to them.
A safe and playful environment
Play therapy offers a secure, nurturing environment where children can explore their emotions and experiences without fear of judgment or external pressure. This sense of safety allows the brain to shift out of survival mode (the fight, flight, or freeze response) and begin the process of healing. By creating an environment where the child feels supported and in control, play therapy lays the foundation for emotional regulation and recovery.
Accessing implicit memory through play
Trauma often becomes “stuck” in the brain, particularly in implicit memory, which stores fragmented sensations, emotions, and experiences that are difficult to verbalise. This can make it challenging for children to process or even understand their feelings.
Play therapy serves as a bridge to these unprocessed memories. Through creative activities like role-playing with toys, drawing, or movement, children can indirectly access and work through these difficult emotions in a safe and manageable way. These playful interactions allow children to express what they cannot articulate verbally, helping them process emotional pain and find meaning in their experiences.
Over time, play therapy helps rewire the brain by forming new neural pathways. These pathways replace fear-based responses with healthier, more adaptive ones. The child-led nature of play therapy empowers children to find their own solutions, fostering autonomy, resilience, and emotional growth.
The power of the therapist-client relationship
At the heart of play therapy is the therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the child. This connection facilitates the release of beneficial neurotransmitters, such as oxytocin (associated with bonding and trust) and serotonin (linked to mood regulation). These neurochemical shifts calm the nervous system and create a safe space for deeper emotional exploration.
By providing empathy, attunement, and acceptance, the therapist plays a vital role in creating a safe and collaborative space where the child feels seen and understood. The therapist also acts as a co-regulator, helping the child learn to manage overwhelming emotions and develop self-regulation skills. This trusting relationship amplifies the healing potential of play therapy, reinforcing the child’s sense of safety and collaboratively building pathways for growth.
The Healing Power of Play
Play therapy is more than just play — it’s a brain-based, evidence-backed approach to healing. By helping children process implicit memories, regulate emotions, and build resilience, play therapy enables them to move forward with confidence. Through playful exploration, they can create new, healthier neural pathways and develop coping mechanisms that last a lifetime.
References
- Badenoch, B. (2011). The brain-savvy therapist’s workbook. New York, NY: Norton.
- Crenshaw, D. A., Stewart, A. L., and Brown, S. (2014). Play Therapy: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and Practice. Guilford Publications.
- Stewart, A. L. and Field, T. A. (2016). Neuroscience and the Magic of Play Therapy. International Journal of Play Therapy. 25(1), pp. 4-13.
- O’Connor, K. J., Schaefer, C. E., and, Braverman, L. D. (2015). Handbook of Play Therapy. John Wiley & Sons.
- Landreth, G. L. (2012). Play Therapy: The Art of Relationships. Routledge.
- Van der Kolk, B. (2014). The Body Keeps The Score. Viking Press.
