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​​Blog

Big feelings and how play therapy helps​

written by Katie Joseph, founder of Bucks Play Therapy -​

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A child’s behaviour doesn’t always tell us how they feel. Anger may hide anxiety. Withdrawal may signal overwhelm. Children often communicate through their actions and play before they can explain their experiences in words.​ As a child-centred play and creative arts therapist, I offer a safe, accepting relationship where children can express themselves at their own pace. Through sand, stories, art, music and imaginative play, they can explore worries and difficult experiences without pressure to talk or find the “right” words.

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Understanding feelings and body clues​​

Emotional Literacy or the ability to recognise, express and understand feelings—grows naturally within this relationship. I gently reflect emotions as they emerge, helping children feel understood and gradually develop their own emotional language.​ Where appropriate, simple explanations about the nervous system are woven into sessions, guided by the child’s interests and readiness. We might explore how our body’s “alarm system” responds to stress, or notice a racing heart, tense muscles or fluttery tummy. Movement, sensory play and playful breathing activities can help children discover what supports them when feelings become overwhelming.

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Safety and connection come first

​Play therapy can help reduce anxiety and support children affected by trauma, giving them opportunities to explore experiences at a manageable pace.  A calm, responsive therapist offers co-regulation: helping a child feel supported while they gradually develop ways to manage emotions.

For neurodiverse children, or those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), support is adapted to their communication, sensory needs, strengths and interests. Understanding what contributes to overwhelm—and adjusting the environment—can help them manage emotional dysregulation more effectively while feeling accepted as themselves.

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Supporting the adults around the child

My work also includes psychoeducation for parents, carers and school staff: accessible explanations of anxiety, trauma, the nervous system and emotional development. While protecting the child’s therapeutic privacy, we explore practical ways to recognise overwhelm, reduce pressures and respond with connection and clear, supportive boundaries.

 

8th November 2026

More blogs to come! Watch this space

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