JoyWorks Counseling, LLC - Emily Patterson, LICSW, PIP

02/04/2026

02/04/2026

The “Why Play Therapy?!” Series - Day 3 – Symbolic Play as Emotional Processing

Children’s brains process and store experiences differently than adult brains, particularly during early development when language, executive functioning, and narrative memory systems are still maturing. Stressful or emotionally charged experiences are often encoded in sensory, emotional, and relational fragments rather than as linear stories.

Symbolic play engages subcortical and right-hemisphere brain systems involved in emotional processing, regulation, and integration. Through repeated play themes, children gradually gain a sense of predictability, control, and mastery over experiences that may have previously felt overwhelming or disorganizing to their nervous system.

What may appear to parents as repetitive or simple play, in the Play Therapy process, is often an adaptive and neurobiologically driven process of emotional integration. In play therapy, these patterns are intentionally reflected back to the child, by a trained and experienced Registered Play Therapist ™️, within a safe therapeutic relationship, allowing emotional regulation, awareness, and meaning-making to occur without requiring verbal processing before the child’s brain is developmentally ready, even if the child is verbal.

02/04/2026

The “Why Play Therapy?!” Series - Day 2 – Why Research Matters in Play Therapy!

Parents often ask: “How do we know play therapy actually works?”
That’s an important question—and one worth exploring.

Play therapy is not based on guesswork or intuition alone. It is supported by decades of research showing positive outcomes for children experiencing anxiety, trauma, grief, behavioral challenges, and difficulties with emotional regulation, to name a few. Many play therapy modalities have been studied using evidence-based standards.

If you’re someone who likes to look at the research behind the work, here are a few highly reputable and reliable organizations that collect, review, and publish play therapy outcome data:

🔹 Center for Play Therapy at the University of North Texas
https://cpt.unt.edu/research-and-publications

🔹 Association for Play Therapy (APT)
https://www.a4pt.org
(Research & Publications section)

🔹 Evidence Based Child Therapy
https://evidencebasedchildtherapy.com

🔹 Child-Centered Play Therapy International (CCPT-I)
https://ccptinternational.org/research

🔹 Sandplay Therapists of America
https://www.sandplay.org/jst-article/sandplay-therapy-an-evidenced-based-treatment/

These organizations compile peer-reviewed studies and clinical research that guide ethical, and effective Play Therapy practice.

Play Therapy may look simple on the outside—but it is grounded in science, specialized training, and intentional clinical care, by a trained and experienced Play Therapist who is also a Mental Health Professional holding at least a Master’s Degree and also holding the highest and independent level of licensure in their State of practice in the USA (Requirements may differ based on other countries). Play Therapy is designed to meet children exactly where they are developmentally and emotionally 💛

02/04/2026

The “Why Play Therapy?!” Series - Day 1 – Play Is a Child’s Language

Children often feel big emotions they can’t yet put into words. They may act out, withdraw, or use imagination to communicate what’s happening inside. Play therapy honors this natural language of children, allowing them to express feelings safely through toys, storytelling, and creative expression. When parents understand that play is their child’s voice, they can see beyond behaviors to the deeper messages children are trying to share 💛

01/28/2026

07/02/2025

01/13/2025

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve had this identical conversation with someone… 😅😭

If you can relate to this video, give us a call!

10/28/2024

Day 1 of Finding Freedom Within Facilitator training! (follow up to Making Sense of Your Worth) ✨💖💪🏻🗣️🕊️⚓️

06/19/2024

Happy Juneteenth! Today we celebrate the end of legalized slavery in the US and the resilience and strength of Black Americans. Let’s continue to fight for liberty and justice for all! 💜

05/31/2024

05/10/2024

Source: PinkAlpaca Comics

05/05/2024