Family play therapy is a modality of treatment that actively responds to this need. It is a model of structured play therapy for child trauma survivors and their families which operates from a systemic treatment perspective. The value of play therapy is multi-faceted for children. It provides a vehicle for learning and growth in all developmental areas. Play provides an avenue for intellectual growth progressing through separate and distinct phases, according to Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget.
Play increases social learning and interactive maturity and it develops gross and fine motor skills.
Since play is not only an instinctive form of self-expression, but also pleasurable for the child, children enter the playroom already equipped to benefit from this method of specialized treatment. Diane Frey, PhD, describes multiple therapeutic advantages of play therapy which include the establishment of a strong therapeutic alliance between therapist and child. In addition, through play therapy, child clients can achieve catharsis and use the ego defense mechanism of sublimation to promote healing by replacing a forbidden impulse or action with an acceptable one. A playroom is designed with many different expressive mediums and toys. It may include puppets, expressive art materials, clay or play dough, picture books, and a therapeutic sandtray with differing toy figures to tell stories.