Erin Lozano, MEd, LPC-S, RPT-S, Director at The Center for Social Success
When people think of therapy, they often imagine two people sitting in chairs and talking about feelings, thoughts, and experiences. That image fits well for many teens and adults—but when it comes to children, therapy looks very different. The way a six-year-old makes sense of the world isn’t through words—it’s through play. Understanding this difference is essential to appreciating how therapy adapts to each stage of development.
Why Children Need Play Therapy
Children don’t always have the vocabulary or self-awareness to describe what they feel. They might say “my tummy hurts” instead of “I’m anxious,” or act out frustration through tantrums rather than explain it. Play therapy bridges that gap. In the playroom, toys become a child’s language, and play becomes their form of communication. Through drawing, storytelling, role-play, and games, children naturally reveal their inner world—how they feel, what they fear, and what they need help managing.
A trained play therapist observes these patterns and uses them to help children process emotions, build coping skills, and develop healthier ways to express themselves. Whether using puppets to explore family dynamics or sand trays to recreate stressful situations, play therapy allows healing to occur on a level that feels safe and natural to a child.
Why Teens and Adults Benefit from Talk Therapy
As individuals grow older, their ability to reflect, analyze, and verbalize emotions increases. Teens and adults can typically describe their experiences, recognize patterns, and engage in dialogue about their thoughts and behaviors. Talk therapy—whether it’s cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, or solution-focused—helps them identify unhelpful thinking patterns, strengthen emotional regulation, and develop insight into relationships and self-concept.
However, therapy for teens often blends traditional talk therapy with more interactive or creative methods—like art, journaling, or mindfulness—because adolescence is still a time of emotional growth and developing identity. The therapist’s role is to create a space where teens feel heard and respected, while gently challenging them to explore new perspectives and build life skills such as self-advocacy, resilience, and healthy coping.
Different Paths, Same Goal
Though play therapy and talk therapy may look very different on the surface, both share the same goal: helping individuals understand themselves better, manage emotions effectively, and build stronger relationships. The key difference lies in how that healing process is accessed. Children use play to show what words cannot express; teens and adults use words to make sense of complex inner experiences.
At The Center for Social Success, we tailor therapy to meet clients where they are developmentally. For children, that might mean building trust through imaginative play with a therapy dog by their side. For teens and adults, it might mean open conversation about stress, identity, or relationships. The form changes, but the purpose remains the same—fostering growth, connection, and lasting emotional well-being.
For more information, call our office at (972)404-3001