Supporting Children to Feel Safe, Express Themselves, and Heal
IFS Play Therapy for Children
Supporting Children to Feel Safe, Express Themselves, and Heal
Children naturally express their inner world through play.
When something is difficult, overwhelming, or confusing, children don’t usually talk about it in words. Instead, their feelings, experiences, and protective responses show up through behaviour, imagination, and play.
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Play Therapy offers a gentle and compassionate way to meet children where they are—supporting them to express, understand, and heal their inner experiences.
Understanding Children Through Parts
A Gentle, Non-Pathologising Approach
This work is grounded in the understanding that:
There is nothing “wrong” with your child
All behaviour makes sense when we understand what’s underneath it
Every part of your child has a positive intention
Children have a natural capacity for healing when they feel safe
Rather than trying to change or manage behaviour from the outside, we focus on understanding and supporting what is happening within.
IFS understands that, just like adults, children have different parts within them.
You might notice:
A part that feels anxious or overwhelmed
A part that gets angry or acts out
A part that withdraws or shuts down
A part that feels sad, hurt, or alone
A part that is playful, curious, and open
These parts are not problems.
They are meaningful responses—often trying to protect the child from feeling something too big, too painful, or too much to handle on their own.
IFS Play Therapy helps children build a relationship with their parts in a safe and supported way.
How IFS Play Therapy Works
In sessions, your child is supported to explore their inner world through play, imagination, and creativity.
This might involve:
Expressing feelings symbolically rather than verbally
Externalising different parts of themselves
Developing curiosity and compassion toward their inner experiences
Feeling seen, understood, and supported
Over time, children often become less overwhelmed by their emotions and more able to regulate, connect, and express themselves.
Working with the Sand Tray and Miniatures
The sand tray offers children a powerful way to create and explore their inner world.
Using sand and a wide range of miniature figures, children can build scenes that reflect their internal experiences—often without needing to explain them in words.
In IFS-informed sand tray work:
Different figures can represent different parts
Protective parts and vulnerable parts can be expressed safely
The child’s internal system becomes visible and understandable
The therapist supports gentle curiosity rather than interpretation
This process allows children to externalise what is happening inside, creating space for healing and integration.
Working with Puppets
Puppets offer another natural and engaging way for children to express their parts.
Through puppets, children can:
Give voice to different feelings and perspectives
Act out internal conflicts or relational dynamics
Safely express things that might feel too vulnerable to say directly
Explore new ways of relating and responding
From an IFS perspective, puppets help children differentiate from their parts and other people —allowing them to relate to those parts or people with more awareness and less overwhelm.
What happens in an IFS Play Therapy session?
Working with Art Therapy
Art provides a creative and flexible way for children to express their inner world.
Through drawing, painting, and creative expression, children can:
Represent different parts visually
Explore feelings that are difficult to put into words
Develop a sense of distance and perspective from overwhelming experiences
Experience a sense of agency and creativity
The focus is not on the final product, but on the process—supporting the child to connect with and express what is inside.
Supporting Emotional Regulation and Connection
As children begin to feel safer with their inner experiences, you may notice:
Reduced emotional overwhelm
Fewer behavioural outbursts
Greater ability to express feelings
Increased confidence and self-awareness
Improved connection with parents and others
This work supports not only the child’s inner world, but also their relationships.
Parent Involvement
Where appropriate, we also work with parents to help you:
Understand your child’s parts and behaviours
Respond in ways that support emotional safety
Strengthen your connection with your child
Create an environment that supports ongoing healing
This helps extend the benefits of therapy into everyday life.
Who This Is For
IFS Play Therapy may be helpful for children who are:
Experiencing anxiety, worry, or overwhelm
Struggling with emotional regulation
Acting out or withdrawing
Navigating grief, loss, or change
Impacted by trauma or difficult experiences
Wanting support to build confidence and connection
A Safe Space for Your Child
Above all, this is a space where your child can:
Be themselves
Feel accepted and understood
Express what they are holding inside
Begin to heal at their own pace
Working Together
We offer IFS Play Therapy for children in a safe, supportive, and compassionate environment.
If you’re curious about whether this approach may support your child, you’re welcome to get in touch or book an initial session.