What Is Play Therapy and How Can it Be Used to Support Children with Eating Disorders or Disordered Eating?
When working with children, traditional talk therapy often falls short of capturing the depth and complexity of a child’s inner world. Unlike adults, children do not always have the language or cognitive development to articulate their emotions, experiences, or distress. This is where play therapy becomes an essential and evidence-informed approach to treatment.
What Is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate, therapeutic modality that uses play—the natural language of children—as a means of communication and healing. Through carefully selected toys, creative expression, and guided interaction, children are able to process emotions, build insight, and develop coping skills within the safety of a therapeutic relationship.
A trained play therapist creates a structured yet flexible environment where children can express themselves freely. Depending on the child’s needs, play therapy may be non-directive (child-led), allowing themes to emerge organically, or directive, where the therapist introduces specific activities to target treatment goals.
While many therapists use play, toys, or creative activities to help children feel comfortable, this is not the same as play therapy. Play therapy is an evidence-based modality with specific training, theories, and interventions designed to support emotional healing and behavioral change through play. Registered Play Therapists (RPTs) have advanced education and supervised experience in understanding and responding to children’s play in clinically meaningful ways. At The Current, several of our Child and Adolescent Therapists are working on their play therapy training and developing their skills in this evidence based treatment.
Why Play Matters in Therapy
Play is not just recreation—it is how children make sense of their world. Through play, children can:
Express complex emotions such as fear, shame, anger, or confusion
Rehearse problem-solving and social interactions
Process difficult or traumatic experiences
Build self-regulation and emotional awareness
For treatment professionals, play therapy offers a window into a child’s internal experience that may otherwise remain inaccessible. For parents, it provides reassurance that their child is being met at their developmental level in a way that feels safe and engaging.
Using Play Therapy to Treat Childhood Eating Disorders
Eating disorders in children often present differently than in adolescents or adults. While weight and shape concerns may be less overt, underlying themes frequently include anxiety, sensory sensitivities, rigidity, perfectionism, and challenges with emotional regulation or autonomy. These factors are not always easily verbalized by a child—making play therapy a powerful adjunct to treatment.
Play therapy can support children with eating disorders in several key ways:
1. Externalizing the Eating Disorder
Through storytelling, role-play, or the use of figures and metaphors, children can begin to separate themselves from the eating disorder. This helps reduce shame and increases their sense of agency in recovery.
2. Exploring Control and Safety
Themes of control often emerge in play. A therapist can gently explore these dynamics, helping the child develop more flexible coping strategies while increasing their tolerance for uncertainty.
3. Building Emotional Awareness and Expression
Children struggling with disordered eating may have difficulty identifying or expressing emotions. Play-based interventions allow for safe exploration of feelings, helping children build emotional literacy and regulation skills.
4. Addressing Sensory and Food-Related Experiences
For children with restrictive eating or ARFID, play therapy can incorporate sensory exploration in a non-threatening way—gradually increasing comfort and curiosity around food-related experiences.
5. Strengthening Attachment and Family Involvement
Play therapy often includes caregiver involvement, supporting parents in understanding their child’s emotional world and reinforcing therapeutic gains at home. This is especially critical in the treatment of childhood eating disorders, where family support plays a central role in recovery.
An Integrative Approach to Care
While play therapy is highly effective, it is most impactful when integrated into a comprehensive treatment plan. For childhood eating disorders, this may include approaches such as Family-Based Treatment (FBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for ARFID (CBT-AR), or parent coaching. Play therapy complements these models by addressing the emotional and developmental components that underpin eating behaviors.
When to Consider Play Therapy
Parents and professionals may consider play therapy when a child:
Struggles to express emotions verbally
Exhibits anxiety, rigidity, or behavioral changes around food
Shows signs of avoidant or restrictive eating
Has experienced stress, trauma, or major life transitions
Would benefit from a developmentally appropriate therapeutic approach
Check out our latest guide: A Parent Guide to Play Therapy Skills at Home to gain some helpful play strategies you can start using with your child today!
Supporting Children Through Connection and Understanding
At its core, play therapy is about connection, a core value of therapists at The Current. It honors the child’s voice, respects their developmental stage, and creates a space where healing can occur naturally through relationship and expression.
For professionals, it offers a nuanced and effective tool for engaging younger clients. For parents, it provides hope—knowing their child can access support in a way that feels safe, natural, and empowering.
If you are a parent or provider seeking specialized support for a child struggling with eating concerns, working with a clinician trained in both play therapy and eating disorder treatment can make a meaningful difference in long-term outcomes. Connect with us at The Current to explore therapy options for your child.
