Reclaiming Play after Trauma: Expanding imagination beyond survival in Child-Centered Play Therapy

Trauma does not eliminate a child's capacity to play, but it can reorganize play around survival. In Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), a child's symbolic world may become dominated by themes of danger, control, and repetition. Grounded in play therapy theories, trauma research, and the Therapeutic Powers of Play, this training explores how trauma shapes symbolic expression. Participants will learn how play therapy practitioners can differentiate rigid, trauma-organized play from typical fantasy. Using clinical case examples and reflective discussion, we will examine common trauma-related play therapy themes. We will focus on strengthening child-centered play therapy skills (including tracking and reflection of feeling) to help practitioners respond to a child's imaginative world without premature interpretation. Ultimately, this workshop demonstrates how the therapeutic powers of play are activated within CCPT to help traumatized children safely move toward psychological flexibility and integration. By the conclusion of this play therapy training, participants will be able to: 1.Identify at least four ways trauma influences symbolic play within Child-Centered Play Therapy. 2. Differentiate trauma-organized play from typical fantasy within a play therapy context. 3. Describe at least four CCPT play therapy responses that support trauma-related play. 4. Explain how specific Therapeutic Powers of Play are activated during play therapy with traumatized children. 5. Apply child-centered play therapy skills to case examples involving trauma-related symbolic play. 6. Evaluate play therapy progress by tracking changes in a child’s imaginative flexibility.