Creative Play Therapy Resources for Therapists Who Want to Make a Lasting Impact

The ACT model is a three-step limit-setting approach used in child-centered play therapy: Acknowledge the child's feeling, wish, or want; Communicate the limit clearly; and Target two appropriate alternatives. Developed by Dr. Garry Landreth, ACT allows therapists to hold firm limits while staying warm and attuned, protecting both the safety of the space and the therapeutic relationship.

Reusable water balloons make a surprisingly powerful play therapy tool for helping children release and process big feelings. By naming a fear, frustration, or worry out loud while throwing the balloon, children get to move the emotion through their body in a way that talking alone never quite achieves. Add a sidewalk painting activity afterward and you have a complete session intervention that addresses emotional expression, regulation, and the concept that feelings are temporary.

The right sensory supplies can transform a therapy room or school counseling office into a space where children feel calm, regulated, and ready to do the work. This therapist-curated guide breaks down the categories of sensory tools worth having, why they work clinically, and what to look for when building your collection.