Does Play Therapy Work for Anxious Children?
Many parents ask: “Does play therapy help with anxiety?” The answer is yes, play therapy is an evidence-based approach that supports children with anxiety disorders and anxious feelings in a safe, child-friendly way.
How Play Therapy Helps with Anxiety
Children often struggle to put their worries into words. Instead of saying “I’m anxious”, they might show it through behaviour, sleep problems, or physical symptoms like tummy aches.
Play therapy allows children to express their worries through play; using toys, art, stories, or sand at a safe psychological distance. This helps them explore what feels overwhelming without pressure to “talk it out.” Children’s bodies will feel anxious but many times they do not have the words to explain it.
Benefits of Play Therapy for Anxious Children
Research and clinical evidence show that play therapy can:
Reduce anxious behaviours by providing a safe outlet for fears and worries.
Calm the nervous system, helping children feel more settled and in control (Porges, 2011).
Build coping skills through play scenarios that encourage problem-solving and resilience.
Strengthen attachment and trust, giving children a secure relationship where they feel safe to explore difficult feelings.
Boost confidence by giving children mastery and control within their play, which carries over into everyday life.
When delivered to Play Therapy UK standards, 76% of children show positive improvements, including those struggling with anxiety.
Does Play Therapy Work for Anxiety Disorders?
Yes! Play therapy has been shown to support children with a range of anxiety disorders, including:
Separation anxiety
Generalised anxiety
Social anxiety
Post-traumatic stress
Phobias
While play therapy is not a “quick fix,” it provides children with long-term emotional tools that help reduce anxiety and strengthen resilience.
Finding the Right Support
If you are considering play therapy for your child, it’s important to choose a qualified therapist with a postgraduate qualification in play therapy and registration with an accredited body.
At WayMaker, our trained play therapists support children who are experiencing anxiety, helping them feel safe, understood, and more confident in themselves.
Find out more about our play therapy service here: WayMaker Play Therapy. We provide play therapy in Co Antrim, Northern Ireland.
To find a play therapist somewhere further afield search the PTUK register of qualified play therapists here.