You log into a session with a client carrying deep trauma, and in that quiet moment before it begins, a familiar question arises: How do I help them through a screen?

Not every client can talk about what happened. Not every trauma reveals itself in words. That’s where digital play therapy comes in, not as a fallback, but as a powerful clinical tool to help clients process their experiences.

At PlaySpace, therapists use virtual tools like the Sandtray, Storybook, and Dollhouse to help clients express what happened to them and process their emotions. These tools offer clients different modalities to explore their inner world, much like art, drawing, or movement might in person. When trauma is stored in the body and in the implicit story, virtual play becomes a way to externalize those experiences and begin making meaning of them at a pace that feels safe.

Trauma-focused play therapy in a digital space doesn’t require reinventing the work, it requires adapting the tools. Just as clinicians might support healing in-person through drawing, somatic discharge, or storytelling, virtual play tools can mirror that same process. The therapeutic goals remain the same: expression, connection, and integration.

In virtual sessions, trauma work might look like this:

• A teen re-creates an interaction in a dollhouse scene using avatars to represent a stressful memory.
• A child chooses “stormy” background images and narrates a storybook about escape.
• A client creates a scene in the sandtray using specific kinds of objects, people, or architecture to re-create “The Day Everything Changed.”

Why does this work?

Play is a language of its own. For clients who can’t or won’t talk about trauma, play offers a safe distance. They can project feelings onto characters or objects, try out new endings, or simply show you what’s too hard to say.

Digital play therapy doesn’t replace traditional trauma methods. It adds creative, flexible tools that meet clients where they are, especially when talking doesn’t feel natural. Trauma lives in the body and in the story. Play gives both a place to be seen and heard.

Tips for Using Digital Play Therapy for Trauma Processing

1. Prioritize Safety and Choice

Start with activities that give the client control. Let them choose the tool, the scene, or the pace. Trauma often takes away a sense of agency - restoring it is healing.

2. Use Metaphor and Symbolism

Encourage clients to use avatars, animals, or objects to represent feelings or people. Ask gentle questions: “Who is this character?” “What happens next?” “Where does this story take place?”

3. Normalize All Emotions

Let clients know that all feelings are welcome in the playroom, even anger, fear, or confusion. If a client destroys a scene or makes a character disappear, explore what that might mean together.

4. Go Slow and Follow Their Lead

Trauma work is not linear. Some days, clients may want to play out joyful scenes or avoid the hard stuff. That’s okay. Trust the process and let them set the pace.

5. Integrate Caregiver Support

When appropriate, invite caregivers to observe or participate in sessions. Share insights about how play is helping, and offer ways to support regulation and expression at home.

Digital Tools That Support Trauma Processing

• Sandtray: Build worlds, process memories, and explore safety.
• Dollhouse: Re-enact scenarios, try new endings, and build empathy.
• Storybook Builder: Narrate experiences, externalize feelings, and create hope.
• Whiteboard: Draw or map out feelings, or learn about coping strategies.
• Games: Use games to develop co-regulation and skill-building to support nervous system regulation.

Digital play therapy isn’t about replacing traditional methods; it’s about expanding what’s possible. Trauma can be isolating, but play creates connection, even through a screen. With the right tools and a therapist’s attuned presence, healing can happen anywhere.

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