How to Respond When Parents Question Play Therapy
If you work with children, you know that also means working with their parents.
Many of us entered this field because we love working with kids. But effective child therapy depends just as much on our ability to build relationships with parents and caregivers. Parent buy-in isn’t an extra part of the work—it is the work.
That can feel tricky when parents come in with questions, skepticism, or concerns about play therapy. Yet those moments often create some of the best opportunities for building trust, strengthening the therapeutic alliance, and helping caregivers better understand the healing process.
At Bud to Bloom, we’re here to not only help St. Louis families directly but also by supporting the people who support children, through play therapy consultations, supervision, and trainings. In this blog, we'll explore why parents sometimes question play therapy and practical ways to navigate those conversations with confidence.
Why Do Some Parents Seem Hesitant About Play Therapy?
If parent work already feels a little outside your comfort zone, working with a caregiver who has strong concerns can feel even more intimidating.
Sometimes the hesitation shows up during the initial consultation:
“My child is older and doesn’t really play”
“She’s very mature for her age”
“He already plays all day at home”
“I’m not even sure they need therapy”
Other times, it surfaces after treatment has already begun:
"We're not seeing progress. Maybe we need a new approach."
"He says you guys just play. We really need you to work on skills."
"What are you even doing in there?"
"Have you talked to him about his behavior?"
If you’ve heard some version of these questions, you’re in good company.
Don’t Take the Questions at Face Value
Early in my career, these conversations felt personal. Like many clinicians, I carried my own shame of imposter syndrome, and parent skepticism could quickly activate it.
Over time, I’ve come to see those conversations differently.
Most parents who ask hard questions aren’t questioning your competence. They’re usually worried about their child. They’re overwhelmed, scared, and looking for reassurance that the time, energy, and resources they are investing will help.
In most cases, parents don’t yet understand how play therapy creates change. That’s not a problem to solve but an opportunity to educate, collaborate, and strengthen the relationship.
When we approach these conversations from curiosity rather than defensiveness, everything shifts.
Confidence Comes Before Psychoeducation
One thing that makes these conversations easier is having a strong understanding of why you use play therapy in the first place.
Parents can often sense when we’re speaking from confidence versus when we’re trying to convince them. So, the goal isn’t to memorize a perfect explanation of play therapy, but to understand the theory deeply enough that you can translate it into language that connects directly to the family’s concerns.
If this is an area where you still feel shaky, that’s okay! Clinical confidence develops over time through supervision, consultation, training, and experience.
You became a child therapist to make a difference. Continued learning is part of how we become the clinicians our clients deserve!
How Do You Explain Play Therapy to Parents?
Before explaining play therapy, it’s important to remember that not every child needs play therapy.
Sometimes the presenting concern is better addressed through occupational therapy, speech therapy, academic support, therapeutic parent coaching, or another intervention entirely.
Being willing to say that builds enormous trust. Parents will quickly learn that you are recommending services because they’re clinically appropriate, not because you’re trying to fill a caseload.
When play therapy is the right fit, focus on making the intervention meaningful to the parent. Avoid jargon whenever possible. Instead, connect the work directly to the goals they care about most.
For example, if a parent is concerned about behavioral outbursts at home and school, I might say:
"Child-centered play therapy gives me a way to enter your child's world and really understand what is going on underneath the behavior. Here is what I believe: how kids feel about themselves and how they see themselves in the world matters more than what they know about how to behave. Most kids already know they should not hit or yell. They do it anyway. That tells me the issue is not knowledge, it is something deeper. Play therapy lets me get to the heart of it. Once I can really see and understand what is happening inside, I can offer responses that help shift how your child sees themselves. The self-directed nature of the work helps them build real confidence and a sense that they can make good choices."
See how that speaks directly to what the parent is actually worried about? This is where buy-in happens.
Parent Sessions are Where Trust is Built
When families have concerns about treatment, parent sessions become especially important.
Before offering explanations or psychoeducation, slow down and make space for the caregiver’s experience. A parent who is frustrated or burnt out does not need more information right away. They need to feel heard first.
Reflect back what you are noticing:
“It sounds like you’ve been trying a lot of different things and you’re feeling discouraged that you’re not seeing the changes you’d hoped for yet.”
Simple reflections like these can dramatically lower defensiveness and increase openness.
Once caregivers feel heard, they’re often much more receptive to conversations about treatment goals, therapeutic themes, and the rationale behind the work.
Parent sessions are also where we help caregivers connect what happens in the playroom to what they hope will happen at home, school, and in relationships. When parents understand they “why” behind the work, trust tends to follow. We’re passionate about therapeutic parent coaching that goes deeper than general parenting advice – learn more through this blog.
What if Play Therapy isn’t the Right Fit?
Sometimes, despite your best efforts, the fit simply isn’t there. Maybe the family wants a different approach. Maybe the presenting concern requires a different intervention. Maybe they aren’t ready for the pace or process of play therapy.
That’s okay. It doesn’t mean you failed.
Helping families find the right support is still excellent clinical work! Ethical referrals, honest conversations, and collaborative care are all part of serving children well.
Recap: Supporting Parents Who Question Play Therapy
When parents push back on therapy:
Remember that skepticism is often rooted in fear, not criticism.
Prioritize the relationship before psychoeducation.
Connect your explanation of play therapy directly to the family’s goals
Use parent sessions intentionally to build trust and collaboration.
Stay honest when another intervention may be a better fit.
Continue building your own confidence through training, consultation, and supervision.
Parent buy-in rarely comes from having the perfect explanation. More often, it comes from helping caregivers feel understood while clearly connecting the work to what matters most to them.
Continue Growing Your Play Therapy Skills
Difficult parent conversations are part of every child therapist’s career, but they don’t have to leave you second-guessing yourself. At Bud to Bloom, we offer practical, evidence-based workshops designed to help clinicians feel more confident, effective, and equipped in their work with children, teens, and families. Not just theory. Tools you can use with your next client.
Join us at an upcoming play therapy training in St. Louis—we would love to have you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some parents seem hesitant about play therapy?
Most parents who have concerns are not opposed to getting help. They are scared, overwhelmed, maybe navigating skill regression, and often just need to feel heard before they can hear anything else. Before you jump into psychoeducation, slow down and hold space for their concern. Reflect back what you are hearing. Let them feel seen. A parent who feels understood is far more open to learning about how play therapy works than one who has just been given more information they did not ask for. Psychoeducation has its place, but the relationship always comes first.
How do I explain play therapy to a parent who thinks their child is too old to play?
Play therapy is not just for young children and it is not about playing for fun. It’s a clinically grounded approach that uses play as a way for children to process emotions, develop self-awareness, and build coping skills. Connecting it to the specific goals a parent has for their child usually helps it click. It can be helpful to reference different types of play you’ll use, like Sandtray therapy for teens.
What should I cover in a parent session?
Start by making space for how the parent is feeling before you dive into updates or education. Check in on goals, share themes or patterns you are noticing, and help parents see how the work connects to what they care about most. Keep the language accessible and leave the jargon at the door.
When should I refer a family somewhere else?
If the presenting concern is a better fit for speech therapy, occupational therapy, or another modality, say so. Being transparent about this is both ethical and trust-building. Not every child needs play therapy and parents will respect you for being honest.
How can I get more confident working with challenging parent conversations?
Deepen your knowledge of the theory and practice behind play therapy so you can speak to it clearly. Consultation, supervision, and continued training all help. Our play therapy workshops at Bud to Bloom are a great place to keep growing alongside a supportive community of professionals who get it.
About the Author
Jasmine Berger, LCSW, is a registered play therapist supervisor and founder of Bud to Bloom Play Therapy in St. Louis, Missouri. Jasmine specializes in helping children and families heal from trauma, attachment disruptions, anxiety, and behavioral challenges through play-based interventions. She also provides training and consultation for social workers and child and family therapists in Missouri and across the U.S.
