Contribution of experiential play therapy to emotion regulation in 2-11 year old children: A study on parents

The primary aim of this study is to examine parental observations regarding the emotion regulation processes of children aged between 2 and 11 who have participated in at least ten sessions of experiential play therapy. The focus of the research is to understand the emotional changes experienced by the children during therapy through the narratives of their parents. This study is based on a qualitative research design and includes semi-structured individual interviews conducted with ten parents who sought psychological counseling services at a center located in Ankara, Türkiye. In terms of demographic characteristics, the majority of the children were girls (8 girls, 2 boys), aged between 2 and 10, and were predominantly raised in nuclear family structures. Among the participants, eight were mothers and two were fathers. All parents were actively involved in their children's therapy process and ensured their regular participation in a minimum of ten sessions of experiential play therapy. The interview data were analyzed using a MAXQDA thematic analysis method. During the analysis process, participant responses were categorized under key themes, with recurring patterns and unique findings interpreted within an academic framework. According to the findings, the reasons parents referred their children to therapy included behavioral boundary issues, anxiety, difficulties in school adjustment, traumatic life experiences, social withdrawal, and excessive attachment. Throughout the therapy process, it was observed that children's responses during emotional crises decreased in intensity, they began expressing their emotions more openly, and the parent-child relationship improved in terms of trust, emotional bonding, and mutual regulation. Furthermore, parents reported significant personal gains in their own emotion regulation abilities, their capacity to attune to their children's emotional needs, and an increased emotional awareness. These findings indicate that experiential play therapy is not only beneficial for children but also plays a crucial role in enhancing parenting skills and strengthening emotional communication within the family. In this context, it can be concluded that experiential play therapy has the potential to facilitate transformation not only at the individual level but across the entire family system.