What is Play Therapy, and How Can It Help After an Injury?

What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a specialized form of counseling designed for children between the ages of 3 and 12. It uses play, an activity that feels safe and natural for children, as a way for them to express their emotions, cope with trauma, and improve their communication skills. Licensed play therapists guide children through carefully structured play sessions, using toys, art, storytelling, and role-playing to help them process difficult experiences in a non-threatening way.

For a child who has been injured at a local daycare center, whether through a fall, neglect, or abuse, the trauma can be significant. Younger children might struggle to articulate what happened or how they feel about it. That is where play therapy can be a powerful resource by offering children a comfortable space where they can express their fears, rebuild trust, and work through their emotions with a trained therapist.

During a session, the therapist observes the child’s choices, behaviors, and interactions with toys and other materials. These observations help identify underlying emotions or traumatic responses related to the daycare injury. For example, a child who experienced a fall at daycare might repeatedly enact falling scenarios during play. A trained therapist would gently guide the child to express their fears about the incident, helping them process the trauma in a safe and controlled way. Over time, play therapy can help reduce anxiety, rebuild confidence, and teach coping skills.

Sessions are typically held on a weekly basis and can range from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the child’s age and needs.

What Types of Daycare Injuries Can Play Therapy Can Help With?

Play therapy can be especially effective in helping children process and develop healthy coping mechanisms to aid their emotional recovery from a variety of daycare injuries, including:

Severe physical injuries or drugging incidents, especially if an ambulance ride or hospital visit was necessary
Physical or sexual abuse
Bullying or emotional abuse
Neglect-related injuries and incidents such as experiencing an allergic reaction, choking, or being left alone in a dark classroom or inside of a daycare van
Wandering incidents that happen when little ones are able to exit a daycare’s premises without an adult’s supervision
Witnessing other classmates get seriously injured or humiliated by a caregiver

By helping multiple families across Texas, our experienced daycare injury lawyers have found that early intervention is key in helping a child heal after a daycare injury or traumatic incident. We encourage parents to watch for these red flags that a child is emotionally struggling:

Aggressive or withdrawn behavior
Change in temperament
Frequent emotional outbursts

Intense fear or anxiety about returning to daycare
Physical complaints like stomachaches or headaches with no medical cause
Sleep disturbances or nightmares

Promptly addressing your child’s emotional impact of a daycare injury with play therapy can prevent more severe mental health challenges down the line, including into adulthood.

What Are the Different Play Therapy Methods to Help My Child After a Daycare Injury?

There are several types of play therapy, each suited to a child’s needs and circumstances. Here’s a closer look at the most common play therapy methods:

Art-Based Play Therapy: Using drawing, painting, and other creative outlets, this method helps a child express any feelings he or she might struggle to put into words. A child recovering emotionally from an injury might draw scenes depicting their fears or desires for safety, providing valuable insights for the therapist.

Directive Play Therapy: The therapist takes a more hands-on approach, guiding the child’s play to address specific issues. For example, if a child experienced a traumatic injury at daycare, the therapist might use role-playing scenarios to help the child safely explore their feelings about the incident.

Filial Therapy: This approach involves parents in the sessions, equipping them with techniques to support their child’s healing at home. For parents dealing with the guilt or distress of their child’s daycare injury, filial therapy can also offer reassurance and practical strategies to aid recovery.
Non-Directive Play Therapy: The child leads the session, choosing the toys and activities that resonate with them. The therapist observes and provides a safe environment, allowing the child to express themselves freely. This approach is particularly helpful for children who may feel a loss of control after an injury.
Sand Tray Therapy: Miniature figures and a tray of sand allow children to build scenes that represent their inner worlds. For a child dealing with the aftermath of a daycare injury, creating scenes in the sand can help them process what happened and how they feel about it.

Was Your Child Physically or Emotionally Injured at Their Daycare Center in Texas? Contact The Button Law Firm.

If your child was physically or emotionally harmed because a daycare center did not comply with Texas childcare safety laws, contact our experienced daycare injury lawyers at The Button Law Firm. With lawyers in Dallas, Houston, and Midland, we are ready to listen, fight for your family, and help your family move forward. Our lawyers at The Button Law Firm are recognized on the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers list, and we can help guide you after a traumatizing incident involving your child. We work on contingency, meaning we don’t charge you or collect any upfront fees to get started on your case. Call us at 214-699-4409, email us at [email protected], or fill out a contact form for a free case evaluation.

Schedule a Free Case Evaluation with a Texas Daycare Abuse Attorney Today

If you or someone you know has a child who was harmed by their daycare teacher, contact our firm. We know how difficult getting through this can be. Our experienced team wants to help guide you – as we have helped guide many parents and families within Midland, Houston, Dallas, and the surrounding areas.

You can give us a call at (214) 699-4409 or email us at [email protected]. You can also reach out to us by filling out the form below or by starting a chat with a member of our team.

Understanding Play Therapy: Helping Your Child Heal After a Daycare Injury