1. Child-Centered Play Therapy

In Child-centered play therapy (CCPT), children are given the freedom to play with toys and materials as they wish. This approach believes in the child's ability to find new solutions to problems when given the chance to play freely in a safe environment. The therapist's role is to use a set of eight facilitative responses to guide and reflect on themes or patterns that can offer insights into the child's emotions and struggles.

2. Directive Play Therapy

As opposed to unstructured play, Directive play therapy involves the therapist guiding the child's play. This can mean introducing specific toys, suggesting activities, or directly scaffolding the play. This technique can be particularly useful when trying to address specific issues or teach particular skills.

3. Sand Tray Therapy

Sand tray therapy allows children to create scenes or stories using miniature figures and a sandbox. The child is often given freedom over how they wish to arrange and interact with the figures, providing a window into their subconscious and symbolic thinking.

4. Puppet Play

Puppets offer children a way to project feelings, fears, and fantasies onto inanimate objects. They can act out scenarios, depict relationships, or express emotions that might be challenging to articulate directly.

5. Art Therapy

Incorporating art into play therapy, children can draw, paint, or craft as a means of self-expression. Art provides an avenue for children to explore and express emotions, memories, and ideas that might be too challenging to put into words.

6. Therapeutic Board Games

Games like "The Talking, Feeling, & Doing Game" or "The Ungame" are specifically designed for therapeutic contexts. These games can help children discuss their feelings, enhance social skills, or understand and process their experiences.

7. Dramatic Play

Role-playing allows children to act out scenarios, either real or imagined. This can help them gain insight into their feelings and behaviors, process traumatic events, and practice problem-solving. Dressing up and engaging in pretend play can be therapeutic. It offers children a chance to explore different roles, process emotions, and experiment with solutions in a safe environment.

8. Storytelling

Storytelling can be a powerful tool in play therapy. Children might create their own stories, or a therapist might use established stories with therapeutic themes. Through these narratives, children can relate to characters, understand and process complex emotions, and explore solutions from a safe psychological distance.

9. Music Therapy

Using instruments, songs, or dance, children can express emotions, develop a sense of rhythm and coordination, and feel a sense of accomplishment and joy.

10. Dance Movement Therapy

Dancing and different types of movement can be therapeutic. It offers children a chance to experiment with how their bodies move, physical sensations and expressions of emotion, and being able to learn new ways of engaging creatively and positively with others.