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My 5 Directive Play Therapy Protocols for Anxiety, Anger, and Trauma

Stanley Efrem

Nov 18, 2025

Child psychologists face a persistent challenge: helping young clients process complex emotions when traditional talk therapy falls short. After 12 years of clinical practice, I've developed five specific directive play therapy protocols that address this gap with measurable results.

Play therapy has supported children with mental, physical, and emotional disorders since the 1930s [11]. Yet many practitioners struggle to find structured, replicable approaches that consistently deliver therapeutic outcomes. Children often cannot articulate traumatic experiences or complex emotions through words alone [13]. Play therapy creates a safe environment where feelings become accessible through action and symbol [13].

These protocols differ from traditional child-centered approaches that follow the child's lead. Each targets specific clinical concerns with clear objectives and measurable outcomes. A meta-analysis of 17 randomized controlled trials demonstrated play therapy's effectiveness in reducing anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems in children [11].

What you'll find here are five complete protocols refined through years of clinical application. Each addresses distinct challenges: specific phobias, anger management, trauma recovery, social conflicts, and family changes. Every protocol includes materials lists, session scripts, therapeutic rationales, and adaptation guidelines.

These aren't theoretical frameworks requiring months of training. You can implement any of these techniques in your next session with confidence, knowing each has been tested in real clinical settings with measurable results for children struggling with anxiety, emotional regulation, and trauma processing.

Protocol 1: The Fear Cupboard for Specific Phobias

Specific phobias create significant challenges for young clients and their families. Specific phobias affect approximately 5% of children in community samples and up to 10% in mental health settings [1]. These fears can persist for an average of 20 years when left untreated [1]. Children struggling with fears of darkness, dogs, monsters, or other specific triggers often cannot articulate their anxiety through words alone. Instead, they display avoidance behaviors that restrict their daily activities and social interactions.

Clinical Target: Externalizing fear of darkness, dogs, or monsters

The Fear Cupboard targets monosymptomatic fears through structured externalization. This directive approach moves beyond verbal discussion, allowing children to symbolically represent and control their fears. Children need concrete methods to understand that their catastrophic expectations rarely align with reality.

This protocol works effectively for children ages 4-12 who demonstrate persistent, specific fears lasting more than six months. These fears typically include physiological symptoms and avoidance behaviors [1]. Common targets include nyctophobia (fear of darkness), cynophobia (fear of dogs), monsters, insects, or other specific triggers that interfere with daily functioning.

The externalization process addresses a core principle of play therapy. When children cannot express emotions verbally, they communicate through play [7]. Behaviors that appear problematic often represent attempts to communicate overwhelming feelings without adequate vocabulary.

Materials Needed: Box, drawing paper, markers, lock-and-key props

Gather these essential materials before the session:

Medium-sized box with lid (a shoebox works well)
Drawing paper (white and colored)
Markers, crayons, or colored pencils
Decorative materials (stickers, glitter, etc.)
Lock-and-key props (can be symbolic or toy versions)
Optional: scissors, glue, and construction paper

These simple materials allow for easy implementation across various settings while providing creative options for different ages and preferences. Prepare materials in advance rather than gathering them while the child waits.

Session Script: Drawing the fear and locking it away

Begin by establishing rapport and explaining the session's purpose:

"Today we're working with that scary feeling you told me about. Sometimes feelings get so big inside us that they need somewhere else to go. We're going to draw that scary [dog/darkness/monster] and find a safe place to keep it so it doesn't bother you so much."

Guide the child to create a visual representation: "Can you draw what your fear looks like? What color is it? How big is it? Does it have a face? What does it do that scares you?"

Validate their experience while they draw: "You've done a great job showing me what scares you. Many kids feel scared of [dogs/darkness/monsters] too."

Introduce the cupboard concept: "This box is going to be our special Fear Cupboard. When scary things bother us, we can put them in here and lock them away. They don't disappear completely, because feelings are important, but they won't be so big and scary anymore."

Have the child decorate their cupboard, emphasizing their control over the process. Then facilitate the symbolic containment: "Now, let's put your drawing in the cupboard. You can fold it if you want or put it in whole. As you close the lid, imagine the scary feelings getting smaller and quieter."

Add the locking element: "This special lock helps keep the fear inside the cupboard. You control the key, which means you decide when to look at your fear again and when to keep it locked away."

End with empowerment and practice: "Whenever you feel that fear getting big again, you can remember that you have power over it. You've shown me today that you're stronger than your fear."

Rationale: Systematic desensitization through symbolic control

The Fear Cupboard operates on systematic desensitization principles, a behavioral intervention used effectively for anxiety-based difficulties in children since the 1950s [3]. This approach relies on reciprocal inhibition - fear responses cannot simultaneously exist alongside competing responses like relaxation or control [3].

Children engage in graduated exposure to their feared stimulus through symbolic, less threatening play [1]. Research demonstrates that systematic desensitization effectively reduces monosymptomatic fears through three key components: relaxation training, creation of a fear hierarchy, and systematic exposure while in a relaxed state [3].

The cupboard metaphor serves multiple therapeutic functions. It creates emotional distance, allowing children to confront fears from a safer position [7]. This symbolic play helps children externalize their anxiety, transforming abstract emotions into tangible objects they can physically manipulate [5]. The repetitive nature of opening and closing the cupboard in subsequent sessions allows children to desensitize to the emotional charge associated with their fear [5].

The lock-and-key element introduces agency. Many children with phobias feel helpless against their fears, yet research indicates that restoring control is central to fear reduction [1]. Through physically controlling when to engage with the feared stimulus, children develop mastery over their emotional responses.

Adaptations: Adjusting for age and verbal ability

For younger children (ages 3-5) with limited verbal ability, simplify instructions and focus on the sensory experience of decorating the box. Preschoolers may benefit from using a stuffed animal to demonstrate the process first, as modeling can enhance comprehension [6].

With older children (ages 8-12), incorporate cognitive elements by adding written components:

Have them write down specific worry thoughts to place in the cupboard
Create "helpful thoughts" cards that stay outside the cupboard
Develop a written fear hierarchy to track progress

For children with developmental delays, break the protocol into smaller steps across multiple sessions. Use concrete language and additional visual supports as needed.

Children with sensory sensitivities might prefer alternative materials - perhaps a digital "fear folder" on a tablet or a soft fabric pouch instead of a box. The key principle remains consistent: providing concrete externalization opportunities regardless of the specific medium.

For particularly entrenched phobias, consider extending this protocol by gradually incorporating real-life exposure exercises paired with the symbolic containment [1]. The cupboard becomes a preparation tool for real-world encounters, supporting the transfer of therapeutic gains beyond the playroom.

Protocol 2: The Anger Volcano for Emotional Dysregulation

Childhood anger outbursts signal more than behavioral challenges - they reveal a child's struggle with powerful emotions that lack appropriate outlets. Emotional dysregulation, which affects approximately 5-9% of children through regular temper tantrums lasting 5-10 minutes [8], requires targeted intervention that addresses the root cause rather than just the symptoms.

The Anger Volcano protocol creates a tangible metaphor for internal emotional processes. Children can visualize how feelings accumulate inside their bodies, building pressure until they explode outward. This evidence-based directive technique gives both therapist and child concrete tools for understanding emotional patterns.

Clinical Target: Somatic awareness and anger management

This protocol targets interoceptive awareness - a child's ability to recognize internal body signals before emotional eruptions occur. Interoception acts as the sensory system that provides information about internal conditions [9]. Many children, particularly those with sensory processing differences, struggle with this internal awareness [10].

The approach works effectively for children ages 4-12 who exhibit:

Frequent outbursts disproportionate to triggers
Limited emotional vocabulary
Poor body cue recognition before episodes
Difficulty using calming strategies independently

Children with sensory processing disorders often cannot process environmental stimuli effectively, leading to overwhelming behavioral responses [11]. They become dysregulated because subtle body signals remain undetected until emotions reach explosive intensity. Enhanced interoceptive awareness provides the foundation for improved self-regulation and emotional management [10].

Materials Needed: Clay, paper, crayons, stomp mat

Gather these specific materials for implementation:

Clay or playdough (red, orange, and yellow colors preferred)
Large white paper (11x17" recommended)
Crayons or markers in various emotion-representing colors
Designated "stomp mat" (small rug or yoga mat)
Printable body outline for sensation tracking
Optional sensory items (stress balls, fidgets)

Clay provides the protocol's foundation through physical manipulation that mirrors emotional states. The tactile experience grounds children during emotional discussions while creating concrete representations of abstract feelings. The stomp mat establishes a designated safe zone for physical energy release.

Session Script: Building the volcano and identifying warning signs

Establish rapport with an engaging introduction:

"Big feelings sometimes need big expressions. Today we're creating your personal anger volcano to understand how emotions build up inside your body before they explode outward. Have you noticed your body getting hot or tight when anger starts growing?"

Guide volcano construction:

"Choose colors that match your anger feelings. Shape your volcano like a mountain with an opening at the top where emotions escape. What does your anger look like when it's building up?"

Introduce emotion accumulation concepts during building:

"Volcanoes don't erupt without warning - pressure builds gradually. Your anger works similarly. What situations add pressure to your internal volcano?"

Add clay pieces for each identified trigger:

"Someone taking your belongings without permission adds anger pressure. Someone interrupting you repeatedly adds more pressure. What other situations fill your volcano?"

Connect body awareness through mapping:

"Real volcanoes show warning signs before erupting. Your body provides similar signals. Let's identify where you feel anger building in your body."

Have the child mark their body outline:

Physical sensation locations (chest tightness, facial heat)
Intensity levels through color density
Sequential awareness patterns

Create eruption understanding:

"When your volcano overflows, what happens? How do you express that explosive feeling? What actions or words come out?"

Develop pressure-release strategies:

"Volcanoes need safe pressure release to prevent destructive eruptions. Let's create healthy ways to release your anger pressure before it becomes overwhelming."

Practice regulation techniques including:

Visual breathing exercises
Stomp mat physical release
Sensory tool manipulation
Emotion vocabulary building

Conclude with practical application:

"Your body's warning system works constantly. When you notice those early signals we identified, you can use these pressure-release techniques to keep your volcano manageable."

Rationale: Interoceptive awareness and safe expression

The Anger Volcano operates on established principles of emotional development and regulation. Anger often masks vulnerable feelings like hurt, fear, sadness, or disappointment [12]. Recognizing underlying emotions reduces anger intensity and frequency.

Current research supports that interoceptive awareness helps individuals attune to bodily signals, register inner experiences, and regulate responses to meet basic needs [9]. Poor interoceptive awareness correlates with emotional regulation difficulties because physical precursors to emotional states remain undetected until overwhelming.

Natural developmental patterns show temper tantrums declining as children acquire emotion regulation skills and socially appropriate expression methods [8]. This protocol accelerates developmental progress by creating explicit connections between physical sensations and emotional states.

Physical volcano construction serves multiple therapeutic functions. External representation makes abstract emotional processes concrete and manipulable. Clay work activates multiple neural pathways, enhancing concept learning and retention [11].

Adaptations: For children with sensory sensitivities

Sensory processing challenges require specific modifications for optimal effectiveness. Children with sensitivities may become overwhelmed by excessive input, while sensory-seekers require intense experiences for regulation [13].

For hypersensitive children:

Offer drawing alternatives to clay work
Provide gloves for texture-sensitive individuals
Create minimal stimulation environments
Use noise-reducing headphones during activities

For hyposensitive children:

Include heavy work activities before sessions
Add textured volcano materials (sand, beads)
Provide oral motor input through appropriate items
Use weighted lap pads during discussions

For mixed sensory profiles: Implement personalized sensory diets with individualized input activities [11]. Balance alerting activities (jumping, swinging) with calming experiences (deep pressure, slow movements).

The Anger Volcano connects physical experiences with emotional regulation, providing children both recognition skills for building anger and appropriate expression tools before reaching destructive intensity levels.

Protocol 3: The Reset Button for Trauma and Safety

Trauma creates lasting changes in a child's nervous system, often appearing as hypervigilance and physical distress. Post-traumatic stress symptoms develop in 25-57% of injured children, affecting both psychological and physical health [1]. The Reset Button protocol addresses this nervous system dysregulation through hands-on somatic intervention, helping children reconnect safely with their bodies.

Clinical Target: Re-establishing bodily safety post-trauma

This protocol targets children whose trauma responses have disconnected them from bodily sensations as protection. Trauma keeps a child's body in heightened alert mode even after danger passes, allowing tension and stress to build in muscles and nervous system [7]. The child's system gets stuck in fight, flight, or freeze responses.

The Reset Button proves effective for children ages 4-12 who show:

Sleep disturbances and physical symptoms [1]
Hypervigilance or exaggerated startle responses
Disconnection from bodily sensations
Inability to distinguish safe from unsafe feelings
Physical complaints without clear medical cause

Research demonstrates that injury severity itself doesn't correlate with trauma symptom development [1]. Even minor traumatic events can create significant somatic dysregulation, making this protocol suitable for various trauma presentations.

Materials Needed: Pillows, buttons, sensory items

Gather these specific materials:

Various sized buttons (3-5 large colorful ones work best)
Pillows, cushions, or soft materials for creating a physical safe zone
Sensory items (weighted blanket, fidgets, soft fabrics, scented items)
Body outline drawing sheet
Colored markers or crayons
Optional: small flashlight, comfort objects from home

Sensory items provide grounding experiences that help children reconnect with their bodies safely. These tangible objects create concrete representations of abstract safety concepts.

Session Script: Locating the alarm and building a safe zone

Establish rapport and introduce the concept:

"Your body has a special alarm system that keeps you safe. Sometimes after scary things happen, this alarm gets stuck in the 'on' position. Today we'll find your body's alarm button and practice turning it to the right setting."

Help the child locate their internal alarm:

"Let's draw where you feel your alarm in your body. Some kids feel it in their tummy or chest. Others feel it in their shoulders or throat. Where do you feel yours?"

Have the child mark the alarm location on the body outline. Introduce the reset concept:

"We're going to create a special reset button for your body's alarm system. Choose a button that feels right for your alarm."

Guide them through the somatic awareness exercise:

"Let's place the button where you feel your alarm. Notice how it feels there. When scary things happen, your alarm might feel stuck on HIGH. With this reset button, you get to practice turning it down when you're actually safe."

Facilitate creating a physical safe zone:

"Now let's build a special safe place right here. These pillows and blankets help make a space where your body can remember it's safe now."

Guide the child in arranging materials into a comfortable space. Practice the reset sequence:

Step 1: "Notice your alarm feeling" Step 2: "Place your hand on your reset button"
Step 3: "Take three slow breaths while pressing gently" Step 4: "Imagine turning your alarm down, not off" Step 5: "Notice how your body feels different now"

End with empowerment and practice:

"Your reset button goes wherever you go. You can use it anytime your alarm feels too loud."

Rationale: Somatic regulation and agency restoration

The Reset Button operates on the principle that trauma stores in both mind and body [7]. Research shows somatic interventions improve self-regulation in children who have experienced trauma [14]. This approach prioritizes bodily safety as the foundation for emotional healing.

Unpredictability triggers anxiety and fear in children who have experienced trauma [15]. The Reset Button creates consistency and predictability while restoring the child's sense of control over their physiological responses. Trauma often involves loss of control, so this protocol rebuilds agency by giving children tools to manage their own bodily reactions [15].

This approach aligns with the three phases of trauma treatment: establishing safety, processing traumatic material, and social reconnection [16]. The Reset Button primarily addresses the crucial first phase by creating a safety foundation from which healing can begin.

Adaptations: For children with developmental delays

Children with developmental delays or disabilities often experience trauma differently and may struggle with traditional trauma approaches [17]. Consider these adaptations:

For children with limited verbal ability:

Use simple, concrete language
Include visual supports and picture schedules
Use more physical demonstrations
Allow alternative communication methods (pointing, drawing)

For children with sensory processing challenges:

Offer headphones to reduce auditory overstimulation
Provide alternative textures based on preferences
Consider proprioceptive needs with weighted items
Break sessions into shorter segments with movement breaks

For children with cognitive delays:

Extend the protocol across multiple sessions
Practice one step at a time until mastered
Use consistent, repetitive language
Include special interests or preferred characters

The Reset Button works particularly well for non-verbal children, as play becomes their language when verbal expression is limited [17]. The tangible nature of the button provides concrete representation that crosses language barriers, making it accessible across developmental levels.

Protocol 4: The Social Navigator for Conflict and Peer Issues

Social conflicts create significant stress for school-aged children. Research shows that play therapy significantly enhances children's social abilities, including better communication and increased cooperation [18]. The Social Navigator protocol builds both cognitive flexibility and practical conflict resolution skills through structured play techniques.

Clinical Target: Practicing social skills and conflict resolution

The Social Navigator targets children who struggle with social navigation - the interpersonal behaviors that involve an individual in interaction with others in their environment [2]. This approach proves effective for children ages 5-12 who show:

Difficulty starting or maintaining peer relationships
Struggles with perspective-taking
Inflexible thinking during conflicts
Limited problem-solving strategies
Social anxiety in group settings

Unlike protocols addressing internal emotions, this intervention focuses on external social dynamics. The structured format works well in individual sessions and small groups of 2-3 children [19].

Materials Needed: Animal figures, map paper, markers

Prepare these materials:

Collection of animal figures (10-12 diverse characters)
Large paper for maps (11x17" preferred)
Colored markers or crayons
Optional environment props
Visual emotion identification aids
Role-playing scenario cards

Animal figures create emotional distance, allowing children to practice social interactions symbolically. This distance reduces anxiety while enabling meaningful skill practice.

Session Script: Mapping social scenarios and role-playing

Start with rapport building and concept introduction:

"We're creating a Social Navigator Map for tricky social situations. Explorers use maps for new territories - sometimes we need maps for social situations too."

Guide through these steps:

Create map environment: "Draw places where you interact with others - school, playground, home. Which places feel challenging?"
Introduce animal characters: "These animals help us practice. Which would you like to be? Which ones represent other kids or adults?"
Map the challenge: "Show me where a difficult situation happened. What occurred? How did you feel? What did you want?"
Role-play scenario: "Let's have our animals act this out. I'll be this character, you be yours."
Explore alternatives: "What might our animals do differently? Let's try three different approaches."
Practice flexible thinking: "When our first idea doesn't work, we try something new. What else could your animal attempt?"

End with reflection and skill transfer:

"Which solution worked best? How might you use this approach in similar real situations?"

Rationale: Social learning theory and cognitive flexibility

The Social Navigator operates on social learning theory principles, emphasizing that we learn through observing and imitating others in social contexts [20]. Role-playing allows children to practice and rehearse social skills before real-world application. This matches research showing play therapy provides controlled environments for developing social skills [21].

This protocol develops cognitive flexibility - the ability to shift attention as environmental demands change [22]. Children need this flexibility to adapt to changing social rules and recognize multiple problem-solving approaches. The faster a child shifts perspective, the greater their cognitive flexibility [22].

The mapping component makes abstract social concepts concrete and manageable. This visualization helps children understand social dynamics and plan responses rather than react impulsively.

Adaptations: For children with ASD or social anxiety

For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, modify by:

Incorporating special interests into scenarios
Using visual supports like emotion cards or social scripts
Breaking social rules into explicit steps
Allowing processing time between interactions
Focusing on specific rather than general social skills

For children with social anxiety, consider:

Starting with less threatening scenarios, gradually increasing difficulty
Using gradual exposure through animal figures
Incorporating relaxation skills throughout sessions
Building confidence through successful interactions
Creating "helpful thought" cards to challenge negative assumptions

The Social Navigator develops both the cognitive flexibility needed for social problem-solving and the confidence to apply these skills in daily peer interactions.

Protocol 5: The Story of the Divorce for Family Changes

Family dissolution creates significant disruption in a child's world, often leaving them struggling to process complex emotions without adequate vocabulary. Children of divorce experience increased anxiety, depression, academic struggles, and relationship problems [23]. The Story of the Divorce protocol addresses these challenges through narrative therapy approaches that help children organize meaning from family transitions.

Clinical Target: Processing grief and loyalty conflicts

This protocol targets children caught in loyalty conflicts - the painful experience of feeling torn between parents. Children who feel pressured to choose sides frequently develop guilt, anxiety, and depression [23]. During divorce proceedings, loyalty binds manifest through:

Confusion about parental roles and abilities
Fear of betraying one parent by expressing love for another
Reluctance to share genuine feelings with either parent
Physical symptoms or behavioral changes without clear medical cause

Materials Needed: Story cards, figurines, drawing tools

Gather these implementation materials:

Story cards divided into beginning, middle, and end sections
Family figurines or dolls representing various family members
Drawing paper and art supplies
Emotion identification cards
Small container labeled "story chapters"

Session Script: Creating a family story with chapters

Open with normalization and hope:

"Families change shape sometimes. Today we'll create a story about your family - with chapters about what came before, what's happening now, and what might come next."

Guide the child through these steps:

Select figurines representing each family member
Create "chapter cards" for different periods of their family story
Tell the story from each figurine's perspective
Express what each character might be feeling during transitions

Rationale: Narrative therapy and emotional externalization

This protocol operates on narrative therapy principles where externalizing conversations separate problems from the person [24]. When children view their experience as a story with distinct chapters, they gain perspective on family changes. This approach enables children to express what they cannot articulate directly [25].

Adaptations: For blended families or ambiguous loss

For blended families, incorporate these additional elements:

Creating unified family narratives while acknowledging separate histories
Using narrative techniques to reshape family stories [4]
Helping children understand that loving a stepparent doesn't reduce love for biological parents

This protocol provides children with tools to externalize feelings, process grief, and navigate loyalty conflicts while creating new meanings for their changing family structure.

Conclusion

These five directive play therapy protocols deliver measurable results for children struggling with anxiety, anger, and trauma. Each technique provides clear structure while remaining adaptable to individual needs. The Fear Cupboard externalizes specific phobias. The Anger Volcano builds somatic awareness. The Reset Button restores bodily safety post-trauma. The Social Navigator develops conflict resolution skills. The Story of the Divorce processes family changes.

What sets these protocols apart is their immediate usability. You don't need months of training or complex theoretical understanding. The materials are simple. The scripts are clear. The rationales are evidence-based. Children with developmental differences benefit from the included adaptations without losing therapeutic effectiveness.

Effective play therapy requires both structure and flexibility. These protocols provide the framework children need to explore difficult emotions safely while developing practical coping strategies. The consistent format - clinical target, materials, session script, rationale, and adaptations - ensures confident implementation regardless of your experience level.

These protocols represent a practical approach to meeting children where they are emotionally while guiding them toward healthier expression. When a child uses their Fear Cupboard to manage bedtime anxiety or applies Social Navigator skills to resolve peer conflicts, the clinical impact becomes immediately apparent.

Your therapeutic practice now has five tested interventions ready for implementation. Choose the protocol that matches your client's needs. Gather the materials. Follow the script. Adapt as necessary. These techniques have proven their worth across diverse clinical presentations and developmental levels.

Start with whichever protocol addresses your next client's primary concern. The tools are ready. The outcomes are predictable. The children are waiting.

Key Takeaways

These five directive play therapy protocols provide structured, evidence-based interventions that transform abstract emotional concepts into concrete, manageable experiences for children struggling with anxiety, anger, and trauma.

• The Fear Cupboard externalizes specific phobias through systematic desensitization, giving children symbolic control over their fears by drawing and "locking away" scary feelings in a decorated box.

• The Anger Volcano builds interoceptive awareness by helping children recognize physical warning signs before emotional outbursts and practice safe regulation techniques through clay modeling and body mapping.

• The Reset Button restores bodily safety post-trauma using somatic interventions that help children reconnect with their nervous system and practice self-regulation through physical grounding techniques.

• The Social Navigator develops conflict resolution skills through animal figure role-play and mapping exercises that build cognitive flexibility and social problem-solving abilities.

• The Story of the Divorce processes family changes using narrative therapy to help children externalize grief and loyalty conflicts while creating new meaning from family transitions.

Each protocol includes complete implementation guides with materials lists, session scripts, therapeutic rationales, and adaptations for children with special needs, making them immediately applicable in clinical practice. These directive approaches provide the structure children need to safely explore difficult emotions while developing lasting coping strategies and resilience.

FAQs

How effective is play therapy in addressing anger issues in children?

Play therapy can be highly effective for children with anger issues. Techniques like the Anger Volcano protocol help children develop awareness of their physical sensations before outbursts and learn coping strategies. Through play, children can safely express and process anger while developing better emotional regulation skills.

What is an example of a directive play therapy technique?

The Fear Cupboard is an excellent example of a directive play therapy technique. In this approach, children draw their specific fear, place it in a decorated box, and symbolically lock it away. This structured activity helps children externalize and gain control over their fears through concrete, guided play.

How does play therapy assist children in processing trauma?

Play therapy helps children process trauma by providing a safe, non-threatening environment to express and work through difficult experiences. Techniques like the Reset Button protocol use somatic interventions to help children reconnect with their bodies, reduce hypervigilance, and practice self-regulation skills through guided play activities.

Can play therapy improve a child's social skills?

Yes, play therapy can significantly enhance a child's social skills. The Social Navigator protocol, for instance, uses animal figures and role-play to help children practice social interactions, develop problem-solving strategies, and improve their ability to navigate peer relationships in a low-pressure environment.

How does play therapy address family changes like divorce?

Play therapy addresses family changes through techniques like the Story of the Divorce protocol. This approach uses narrative therapy principles to help children create a coherent story about their family's transition, process complex emotions, and navigate loyalty conflicts. It allows children to externalize their feelings and make sense of changes in a developmentally appropriate way.