Play-Based Therapy

Children don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling: especially when emotions are big, confusing, or overwhelming. Instead, they communicate through play, behaviour, movement, and imagination.

Play-Based Therapy offers children a safe, supportive space to express themselves in the way that comes most naturally to them. Through play, children can explore emotions, process experiences, and build the skills they need to feel more confident, calm, and connected.

At Four Wings Psychology, we offer play-based therapy in Nepean and virtually across Ontario (when developmentally appropriate). Our therapists use play-based, trauma-informed approaches to help children feel understood and supported, while partnering closely with caregivers along the way.

Through play-based therapy, children can:

• Express emotions safely and creatively
• Develop emotional awareness and regulation skills
• Process difficult or confusing experiences
• Build self-confidence and problem-solving abilities
• Strengthen social and communication skills
• Increase resilience and coping capacity

Play-based therapy helps children make sense of their inner world, and feel less alone in it.

Play-Based therapy typically begins with an intake session, where we learn about your concerns, your child’s strengths, and relevant family context. From there, the therapist builds trust with your child, at their pace, using play to create safety and connection.

In sessions, your child may:

• Use play to express feelings or experiences
• Engage with art, stories, or imaginative activities
• Practice calming, grounding, or coping skills
• Explore emotions in developmentally appropriate ways
• Build confidence, empathy, and emotional language

Caregivers are kept informed through regular check-ins and guidance. We aim to support both your child and you while respecting your child’s growing sense of privacy and autonomy.

If your child is struggling with big feelings, behavioural changes, or a difficult season of life, play-based therapy can help them feel more secure and capable: one little step at a time.

At Four Wings Psychology, we meet children with warmth, curiosity, and respect, helping them express, heal, and grow through the language they know best: play.