Play therapists accept that “Play is the child’s language… toys are the child’s words” (Landreth, 2012). Somatic approaches to play therapy reveal what is held below the toys and the symbolic tale: the somatic narrative. The story held and expressed by the child’s body gives important clues about their internal experiences and the state of their nervous system. A play therapist trained in somatic therapies can enhance the therapeutic powers of play by including methods that invite the child’s whole body to move and play.
Certified Synergetic Play Therapist and Supervisor Jayne Dean wrote a fantastic article in the Association for Play Therapy’s Play Therapy magazine (Vol. 20, Issue 1, March 2025), exploring the power of movement in play therapy! In Whole Body Play: Inviting Movement Into Play Therapy, Jayne dives into how engaging the whole body can enhance regulation, expression, and healing for children in the playroom. Read the full article here!
