What’s the Role of Parents in Play Therapy?

Understanding the Role of Parents in Play Therapy

Parents play a crucial role in a child’s healing process through play therapy. While the therapist provides a corrective experience within the session, parents are the primary attachment figures who shape a child’s emotional and neurological development. Supporting parents as therapeutic agents of change can extend the benefits of therapy beyond the weekly 45-60 minute session, helping children build resilience and positive identity formation.

In this post, we’ll explore:

The role of parents in play therapy from a case conceptualization perspective
How parents act as therapeutic agents of change
The importance of clearly defining and communicating expectations for parent involvement

By strengthening the role of parents in the change process, play therapists can create lasting impact for their child clients.

Case Conceptualization: Defining the Role of Parents

When considering how parents factor into play therapy, therapists must first look to their play therapy theoretical model. Different models conceptualize parental involvement in unique ways:

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT): Parents do not participate in sessions but engage in separate consultation sessions with the therapist.
Filial Therapy & Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT): Parents are actively taught play therapy techniques to implement with their child.
Adlerian or Gestalt Play Therapy: Parents may be integrated into sessions or involved in a structured way.
Attachment-Focused Family Play Therapy: Parents participate directly in sessions to strengthen parent-child relationships.

For therapists using an integrative approach, a neuroscience and attachment lens can help guide decision-making about parental involvement. Regardless of the model, therapists should clarify how parents will participate in the change process to create a clear framework for treatment.

Parents as Therapeutic Agents of Change

Play therapists often ask: Who is the true agent of change in therapy—the therapist or the parent? The answer is both. While therapists provide a structured and attuned space for children, parents are the ones who reinforce emotional regulation, attachment security, and resilience-building outside of sessions.

Children are wired for connection, and their primary caregivers play a key role in shaping their brain development. When parents understand their role as co-regulators, they can help children manage emotions, advocate for their needs at school, and create a safe and supportive environment.

By fostering secure attachments, parents:

Help children navigate challenging emotions and behavioral struggles
Reinforce co-regulation strategies that support neural development
Strengthen a child’s ability to form healthy relationships and develop emotional stability

Therapists can empower parents by teaching them attunement, limit-setting with empathy, and co-regulation techniques that align with the child’s treatment goals.

Defining and Communicating Expectations for Parental Involvement

One of the biggest challenges play therapists face is unclear or inconsistent expectations for parental involvement. Many therapists struggle with frustrated parents who don’t fully engage in the process, which can lead to stalled progress.

To address this, therapists must first define their own expectations and then clearly communicate them to parents from the very beginning. Consider these questions:

What level of involvement is necessary for parents based on your theoretical model?
How will you explain their role in supporting their child’s progress?
What specific strategies or activities will they be expected to implement at home?

Parents don’t automatically know how to support the therapy process. By proactively defining their role and setting clear expectations, therapists can ensure parents become active partners in the child’s healing journey.

Partnering with Parents for Lasting Change

Supporting parents in play therapy goes beyond occasional updates or check-ins—it requires a structured approach to integrating them into the process. When done effectively, parents become an extension of the therapeutic process, reinforcing healing at home and in everyday life.

For therapists looking to deepen their understanding of how to engage parents effectively, the Getting Grounded: Partnering with Parents in Play Therapy course provides a neuroscience and attachment-based framework to enhance parent-child relationships and improve therapeutic outcomes.

Interested in strengthening your skills in working with parents? Join Play Therapy Academy for in-depth training, case consultation, and a supportive community of play therapists dedicated to making a difference.

Categories: : Case Conceptualization, Imposter Syndrome, Play Therapy Academy, Play Therapy Model, Podcast