Art Therapy vs Play Therapy for Children

Play Therapy and Art Therapy can both prove effective in helping children explore their emotions and trauma through creativity. But what’s the difference between these modalities? Does art therapy and play therapy go hand in hand? Or are their differences more nuanced? What are the benefits of each type of therapy? And which one is right for the child in your life?

It’s natural to be filled with questions around different therapies for children, especially when deciding which one is going to be most helpful for their individual therapy journey.

Child art therapy is often confused with play therapy, as many evidence-based play therapists create space for various art-based activities in their work with children. Similarly, art therapists will adopt typical play props including toys, puppets or games to complement and encourage artistic expression in children.

What are the differences between play therapy and art therapy?

To decipher the differences, let’s look at their definitions.

Play Therapy for children…

This therapy uses the natural act of playing without constraint in a safe space as a way of helping children express or communicate their feelings and thoughts through their imagination. The therapist uses toys, sand, art, props and structured games to encourage children to engage in therapy.

At its core, play therapy is a developmentally appropriate, evidence-based method of connecting the child’s innate creative and expressive abilities with their emotions, so a trained play therapist can gain insight into their mindset (internal working models, negative patterns) that is driving the troubling behaviours.

Children are under no pressure to immediately explain what is troubling them, as talk therapy usually expects. In a play therapy session, children can play out, whether literally or metaphorically, their inner experiences that they may have difficulty sharing with those close to them. Using the method of reflection, the play therapist empowers children to gain insight and understanding of their inner experiences and behaviours, seek to encourage them to make choices and decisions for themselves and have time to figure things out and develop healthier coping strategies.

There is no pre-requisite or need for experience in any of the play activities, the focus is more so on personal expression and mastery of coping skills. In other words, by offering a safe place for children to use their imagination and explore the emotional boundaries within the therapeutic relationship with the therapist, they find a new avenue to deal with grief and loss, pain, abandonment, anger, jealousy and fears. Children can use play to communicate at a level that is comfortable for them and go at their own pace, without feeling interrogated. Play Therapists take special care to form and maintain a warm, caring, accepting and permissive relationship with the child that allows them to express any emotion to gain insight.

Play therapy is usually best suited for children aged 2 – 12. Younger children, and those who have historically expressed difficulty in communicating how they feel, will find the most benefit from play therapy sessions.

How long it will take to see positive results depends on the individual, however the play therapist will have regular contact with a parent or legal guardian to update them on the child’s progress and how they can use that insight in their day-to-day life.

Art Therapy for children…

This therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses the act of artistic pursuit to reduce anxiety, improve self-esteem and resolve any psychological conflicts. In many ways this is similar to play therapy, but it prioritises visual language over movement.

It encourages the creation of a tangible product such as drawing, sculpture and carving to reawaken memories or stories that may reveal messages and beliefs from the unconscious mind. With the guidance of a qualified art therapist, children (and adults too) can work to decode the messages, symbols and metaphors hidden in their creation.

Treatment may be conducted in a group setting or individually, and can be used as the primary mode of therapy or secondary to other forms of psychotherapy.

Which therapy will prove more effective?

There’s no saying. Every child responds differently to each type of therapy, whether play-based or talk-based. Some kids will pour their hearts out in their art or when playing, and others require a little more space to open up. The same is true for adults too. The most important thing is the trust between the child and therapist, therefore it’s worth searching for a therapist that the child can connect with.

Many therapists have different skills that let them connect with a child at different levels. For example, an art therapist will be able to interpret pictures drawn by a child in a way that a play therapist may not, while a play therapist could be better suited to a child that expresses themselves through movement.

We recommend a thorough parent or carer assessment prior to working with children. This is essential to understanding what each child needs and how to best tailor the therapy session for a positive outcome.

If you’d like to learn more about how play therapy or any of our play based therapies can benefit your child and family, we invite you to book a consultation with one of our accredited Melbourne-based therapists at Play Therapy Hub. Our work as play therapists is not just about helping your child, but supporting your entire family. To request a free 10-minute consult, fill in our Request an Appointment form or call us on 0426 826 627.