Starting play therapy can feel like a big step — for both children and parents. It’s completely natural to want your child to feel comfortable, confident, and ready before their first session. Here are a few ways you can help them understand what play therapy is and what to expect.

1. Explain What Play Therapy Is

You can tell your child that play therapy is a place where kids and families go to get extra support when things feel hard. Try saying, “Play therapy is a special place where you can play, talk, or draw to help you understand your feelings and feel better.”

At Wellness Through Wonder Counseling in Salt Lake City, play therapy is a safe and caring space where children express themselves in ways that feel natural — through play!

2. Give Simple, Relatable Examples

Children understand best through familiar experiences. You might say, “Kids go to therapy when they’re feeling sad, worried, angry, or having a hard time at school or home.” Framing it this way helps them see therapy as a normal, supportive part of growing up.

3. Normalize Feeling Nervous

It’s okay if your child feels unsure before their first appointment. You can let them know that lots of kids feel nervous at first, but their therapist’s job is to help them feel comfortable and safe. You might add, “You don’t have to know what to say — your therapist will help you figure it out.”

4. Emphasize Choice and Comfort

Let your child know that play therapy is their space. They can choose what to play with, what to talk about, or even if they want to talk at all. Children often feel more at ease when they know they are in control of how they participate.

5. Describe the Playroom

Before the first session, help your child imagine what the playroom might look like. You could say, “There will be lots of toys, games, and art supplies — you can choose what you want to play with while your therapist listens and helps you with your feelings.” This helps turn anxiety into curiosity and excitement.

6. Use Books to Support the Conversation

Reading together is a wonderful way to introduce the idea of therapy. Two child-friendly books that many families find helpful are:

• When a Donut Goes to Therapy by Erin Winters – A warm, playful story that helps children understand what therapy is and why it’s okay to need support.

• Miss Piper’s Playroom by Lynn Louise Wonders – A gentle introduction to the play therapy setting, helping children see therapy as a place for imagination, comfort, and healing.

These stories can spark questions and open up conversations about what your child might experience in their own sessions.

7. Reassure & Be Present

Your calm presence and reassurance go a long way. You might say:

“I’ll be here with you. When you go into the playroom, you can always ask questions or take breaks. You’re never alone in this.”

Let your child know that therapy is a partnership — you, they, and the therapist are on the same team.