Virtual Play Therapy Explained: Tools, Tips & Platforms for Play Therapists

How to move beyond “Zoom + worksheets” and create engaging, effective virtual play therapy sessions

If you’ve ever tried to do play therapy over Zoom and thought…

“This is not working.”
“I feel like I’m losing the child’s attention every 2 seconds.”
“This doesn’t feel like real play therapy.”

You’re not alone.

When the world shifted during COVID, play therapists were forced—almost overnight—to figure out how to do deeply relational, expressive, symbolic work…

…through a screen.

And for most of us?

It felt clunky.
Disconnected.
And honestly… frustrating.

Because the truth is:

Most virtual platforms were never designed for play therapy.

The Real Problem With Virtual Play Therapy

Let’s name what’s actually happening.

Most platforms (Zoom, Google Meet, Teams) are built for:

Meetings
Conversations
Presentations

They are not built for:

Symbolic play
Creative expression
Relational attunement
Engagement with children

So what do play therapists end up doing?

Piecing things together.

Google Slides
Screen sharing
Worksheets
Random online games

A little bit of this… a little bit of that…

A mishmash of tools that sort of work—but never fully.

Why Virtual Play Therapy Still Matters

Even with all the challenges…

Virtual play therapy is not going away.

In fact, it’s becoming more essential.

Because it allows you to:

Reach clients in rural or underserved areas
Work with specialized populations across a state (or beyond)
Maintain consistency when life happens (weather, illness, logistics)
Support families who otherwise wouldn’t have access

There are therapists right now doing incredible work virtually with:

High-conflict families
Trauma cases
Teens who prefer digital spaces

The need is real.

The question is:

How do we do it well?

The Mindset Shift: It’s Not About Replicating In-Person

One of the biggest mistakes?

Trying to make virtual therapy look exactly like in-person therapy.

It won’t.

And it doesn’t need to.

Because virtual therapy actually offers something unique:

The ability to meet kids in their world.

Think about it:

Kids are already engaging through screens
Play is already happening digitally
Creativity and expression exist online

So instead of forcing the old model…

We adapt the medium.

What Actually Works in Virtual Play Therapy

Let’s get practical.

Here’s what makes virtual play therapy effective:

1. Engagement Comes First

If the child isn’t engaged…

Nothing else matters.

And engagement online requires:

Interactivity
Movement (even digitally)
Choice
Personalization

👉 Passive talking doesn’t work.

2. Keep Everything in One Place

One of the biggest hidden problems?

Too many tabs.

The moment a child has to:

Click another link
Switch screens
Navigate tools

You lose them.

They’re gone.

(Probably opening YouTube or another game.)

So the goal is:

One screen. One space. One experience.

3. Use Play-Based Tools (Not Just Talk Tools)

This is where many therapists get stuck.

They default back to:

Talking
Questioning
Processing

Because the tools don’t support play.

But what actually works is:

Sand tray (yes—even virtually)
Drawing and art boards
Games for rapport building
Story creation
Symbolic expression

The same therapeutic powers of play still apply.

Just in a different format.

4. Personalization Is Everything

Here’s something powerful about virtual work:

You can customize in ways you can’t in person.

For example:

Turning a game into something the child loves (dogs, characters, themes)
Creating personalized stories
Using digital symbols that match their real life

That level of personalization:

Builds connection faster.

A Platform Designed for Play Therapists

This is where platforms like Playspace come in.

Because instead of piecing things together…

It brings everything into one place.

Inside a single session, you can have:

A virtual playroom environment
Sand tray therapy tools
A dollhouse (including multiple home setups)
Art/whiteboard space
Interactive games
Custom story creation tools
Even AI-supported note-taking

And the key difference?

You and the client see the same thing, in real time.

No switching tabs.
No confusion.
No lost attention.

Why This Matters Clinically

This isn’t just about convenience.

It directly impacts your clinical work.

Because when you remove the tech friction:

You stay attuned
The child stays engaged
The session feels relational again

And that’s where the work happens.

Not in the tools themselves—but in what they allow.

“But What About Teens?”

This comes up all the time.

“I don’t want it to feel babyish.”

That’s valid.

And here’s the good news:

Virtual tools can be:

Simplified
Neutralized (no “playroom” look)
Used more like a toolkit instead of a toy space

For teens, this might look like:

Whiteboard for expression
Light games for rapport
Symbolic work without it feeling childish

It’s all about how you frame it.

You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone

Let’s be honest:

Virtual play therapy has been a learning curve for everyone.

And trying to figure it out on your own?

That’s exhausting.

Which is why I always come back to this:

You need both training and community.

If You Want Support Applying This…

1. Play Therapy Elevation Circle

If you’re navigating things like:

Virtual sessions
Engagement challenges
What tools to use and when

Inside Play Therapy Elevation Circle, we:

Share ideas
Talk through real cases
Explore what’s working (and what’s not)
Support each other in real time

👉 Because you don’t have to do this alone.

2. Play Therapy Academy (Deeper Skill Building)

If you’re ready to:

Strengthen your clinical skills
Learn how to apply play therapy models
Get consistent consultation

Then Play Therapy Academy is where we go deeper.

Want to Try a Platform Like Playspace?

If you’re curious about simplifying your virtual sessions:

You can explore Playspace and try it out.

There are trial options available, and it’s worth experiencing it firsthand to see how it fits your style.

Final Thought

Virtual play therapy isn’t “less than.”

It’s just… different.

And when you:

Shift your mindset
Use the right tools
Stay grounded in your model

👉 You can still create powerful, transformative experiences.

Even through a screen.

Categories: : Play Therapy, Play Therapy Themes, Podcast, Sand Tray Therapy