About TraumaPlay™ Therapy

TraumaPlay™ is a flexibly sequential play therapy model for treating traumatized children that has been in development for the last 20 years as Paris Goodyear-Brown has worked with children and families with complex trauma to integrate several evidence based treatments into a developmentally sensitive play-based treatment continuum. 

TraumaPlay™ is informed by our current understandings of the neurobiology of play and the neurobiology of trauma, and is built on the power of one to heal the other. Grounded in attachment theory, the child or family is met moment-to-moment as therapeutic needs are assessed. The framework of seven therapeutic treatment goals serve as the umbrella under which clinicians have freedom to employ a variety of interventions. A subset of goals related to enhancing the role of Parents as Partners expands clinicians’ finesse in integrating parents into trauma treatment. 

TraumaPlay™ allows room for both non-directive and directive approaches to be employed and incorporates clinically sound elements of other evidence based treatments such as Child Centered Play Therapy, Theraplay, and Cognitive-Behavioral Play Therapy, while offering original interventions that were developed in real-world clinical settings to maximize therapeutic absorption through every play-based learning portal. This training will equip clinicians with a wealth of targeted techniques that are tied to the model’s umbrella treatment goals. 

TraumaPlay™ offers a best practice framework for trauma work with families while encouraging ongoing assessment and offering flexibility to the clinician to tailor treatment to the needs of individual families. See the flowchart below for a better understanding of the treatment continuum.

TraumaPlay, developed by Paris Goodyear-Brown, provides a thoughtful, phased approach to help children heal from trauma. Each phase is designed to support the child gradually and build skills that foster resilience and healing. However, the model is flexible and the therapist is skillfully trained to assess the varying needs of the child and move back and forth through the phases as needed. Therefore, sessions may involve multiple components of the model depending on the needs of the child that day. Here is a description of each phase that can help parents understand the journey:

• This initial phase focuses on creating a secure, trusting environment where the child feels safe. Establishing this sense of safety is critical for trauma work, as children need to feel grounded and comfortable with their therapist before delving into trauma-related activities.
• Activities in this phase might include engaging in simple, structured play, reinforcing the predictability of the sessions, and creating physical and emotional safety. Parents are encouraged to contribute by creating supportive routines and reinforcing safety at home.

• During this phase, the therapist assesses the child’s current coping skills and introduces new ones to help the child manage distressing emotions and triggers more effectively.
• Through creative and engaging play, the child learns new coping tools, such as breathing techniques, distraction skills, and grounding exercises. These skills form a “coping toolkit” that the child can use both in and outside therapy.
• Parents are involved in practicing these skills at home, reinforcing their use in everyday situations to build consistency and confidence.

• Trauma can have significant effects on a child’s body, so this phase focuses on calming the nervous system and teaching the child to self-regulate.
• The therapist works with the child to recognize signs of stress in the body and introduces relaxation techniques to soothe physiological reactions (e.g., rapid breathing or muscle tension) associated with trauma.
• Parents play a crucial role as “soothing partners,” learning how to help calm and co-regulate their child’s physical responses, building trust, and providing comfort when the child needs support.

• In this phase, the child learns to identify and label their emotions, an important step toward understanding and expressing complex feelings linked to trauma.
• Activities might include using feeling charts, storybooks, or expressive play to help children explore different emotions and build a vocabulary for their experiences.
• Parents are encouraged to reinforce this learning by modeling emotional expression at home and helping the child feel comfortable discussing feelings.

• This phase involves gradually exposing the child to trauma-related memories or situations, using play as a safe medium to process these experiences.
• Continuum of Disclosure allows the child to disclose trauma-related themes at their own pace, while Experiential Mastery Play gives the child a sense of control and strength through play scenarios.
• The child might also begin to develop a Trauma Narrative in which they share or reconstruct the traumatic event in a way that feels manageable, often with protective or heroic elements.
• Parents provide support by reinforcing the child’s sense of safety, control, and mastery as they progress through this challenging but empowering phase.

• In this phase, the therapist helps the child explore and challenge negative thoughts and beliefs that may have arisen from the trauma, such as feelings of guilt, fear, or helplessness.
• Cognitive restructuring techniques, often through story-telling or cognitive play, help children identify unhelpful thoughts and replace them with balanced, empowering perspectives.
• Parents learn how to reinforce these new, positive thoughts at home by encouraging hopeful language and affirming the child’s self-worth and resilience.

• The final phase focuses on helping the child make sense of who they are after the trauma, emphasizing growth, resilience, and a positive self-image.
• The therapist might use affirmations, strengths-focused activities, or reflective play to help the child view themselves as strong, capable, and valuable, incorporating their experience as part of their journey rather than their identity.
• Parents support this phase by celebrating the child’s progress, reinforcing their positive qualities, and helping them see their strengths.

• TraumaPlay’s phased approach allows children to feel safe and prepared at each step, minimizing the risk of overwhelm and focusing on skill-building for resilience.
• By partnering with the therapist throughout these phases, parents become essential supporters of their child’s healing, reinforcing the therapy work at home, creating a safe environment, and celebrating progress.
• Each phase builds on the previous one, creating a well-rounded framework that addresses the body, mind, and emotions, ultimately helping the child rediscover joy, strength, and self-compassion in the wake of trauma. The model was uniquely created to be flexible though, so that the therapist, child, and family can move back and forth as needed through the components.