ABSTRACT
This chapter considers what is special about play and why play can contribute so much to a child’s therapeutic progress. It explores some of the different ways in which therapists can help emotionally damaged children through therapeutic play and play therapy and ways of providing primary experience through play, symbolic play therapy, and play in focused therapeutic work or ‘counselling’. Children who have had a difficult or distressing time, or suffered a painful separation or loss, may use pretend play to help them come to terms with their experiences. A child whose very early primary experience was ‘good enough’ but who later in infancy experienced damaging separations or losses may find that symbolic play in play therapy can offer a measure of healing. As with the baby, sensory and interactive play are part of everyday activities, so having meals, playtime, bath and bedtimes provide their own opportunities for good experience.
