Why You Need More Than One Play Therapy Theory

Your play therapy theory is the foundation for everything you do in the playroom.

Heck, it’s the foundation for not only what you do, but how your playroom is created. 

And even if your playroom has any toys at all.

Yup, theories like Ecosystemic don’t actually store the toys in the playroom! The therapist decides what is needed and only brings in the specific and relevant toys for the session. 

Check out the importance of theory HERE and HERE! 

My theories?  *takes a deep breath*

My theories are primarily Child Centered Play Therapy for children 10 and under (but not always depending on trauma history, emotional age etc.) and Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy.  I am influenced by Synergetic Play Therapy and Adlerian Play Therapy.  My overall organizing theory is Adaptive Information Processing, which is the theory that underlies Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Memory Reconsolidation Theory, another trauma based theory. These theories help me understand how the past, memories, and trauma affects current functioning and what needs to happen with a client’s memory networks to promote healing. Depending on the client and the presenting issue I may engage in CCPT, CBPT, EMDR, or a combination of modalities. 

Soo….. kind of a complicated answer.

And kids? Well… the factors that lead them to present in my office are also incredibly complex.

For me, I see kids 3 -18 with a small sprinkle of adults.  My theories need to be adaptive to not only the age of the child but the diagnoses they are presenting with.  

My 17 year old client with depression likely isn’t going to benefit from Child Centered Play Therapy. AND my 4 year old with separation anxiety may not be able to engage in CBPT for optimal healing. 

Other clients? They may need more integration to heal trauma memories - cue the EMDR! 

You can start to see why having more than one theory is not only beneficial but ethically necessary for your practice.  Your theory will depend on the populations you see, age of clients you accept, cultures you work with, and presenting concerns. 

A clinician with a practice of predominantly neurodivergent clients may operate from a different theory than a clinician working with attachment wounded 2-4 year olds.  

AND even within a certain population, age group, or diagnosis - there is variety and variability of what the client’s needs will be.  

No population is a monolith and an a + b = c formula isn’t human centered.

Lastly, based on the goals of therapy and expected outcomes, different theories will provide different supports to get closer towards a client’s goal.  Is the goal to increase attachment? Increase regulation skills? Heal from traumatic memories? Different play therapy theories will be helpful for different clients presenting concerns.  

Additionally if you are going to become a Registered Play Therapist, you are actually required to have more than one theory.   

The perspective that one theory or modality is a good fit for every single client that walks into your playroom can be an ethically dangerous place to practice from.  It prevents curiosity of a client who is stagnant in therapy for what has led them to this space and what they need next. It prevents referrals for other services that may be of benefit.  

At the end of the day - you need to have more than one theory because kids and families deserve flexible, personalized, and effective therapy. A client’s therapeutic journey is like a map.  You know where they are now, you know where they want to go, and your theory provides you the how. 

Now imagine the only tool in your toolbox is a 4-wheeler.  But as you are going on your journey you encounter a massive river.  If you don’t pivot and get yourself a boat, you’re going to be stuck working together to get to the end. 

With multiple theories? You have climbing gear, a 4-wheeler, a boat, a sled…. The sky is the limit!

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