Supporting Children with Autism: How Play Therapy Creates Safe Spaces for Growth and Connection

As research on the brain progresses, my understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is expanding, providing insights I didn’t have before. This evolving knowledge helps me tailor therapeutic approaches to meet the needs of children with ASD, allowing them to thrive in a world that is largely designed for neurotypical individuals.

Receiving an ASD diagnosis for your child can be overwhelming. There’s no right or wrong way to respond, and any thoughts or emotions you experience are entirely valid. One of the most common concerns parents express is simply trying to understand what this diagnosis means for their child. This is a difficult question to answer because every child is unique.

It's crucial to recognise that, like all children, no two children with ASD are alike. The autism spectrum is incredibly broad, which is why researchers still debate its nuances. I cannot base expectations on one particular "image" of a child with autism. Each child has their own struggles, experiences, and interests. Some children may find communication and socialising easier than others, while some may face challenges with sensory overload.

Through extensive brain research, two key factors have emerged that are consistent among children diagnosed with ASD: they thrive in environments that are predictable and safe, and they seek structure. In a familiar and consistent environment, their brains can absorb information more effectively, helping them learn and process sensory input. However, when their environment is unpredictable, their brains enter a hyper-aroused state, triggering a survival response. This makes concentration difficult, and sensory input becomes overwhelming. In these moments, children may create their own structures to regain a sense of control, though these coping mechanisms aren't always helpful and can sometimes disrupt their lives. Overwhelm may lead to impulsive reactions, emotional outbursts, or the need to escape the situation.

Imagine this from the child’s perspective: their body feels like an alarm is going off, but they can’t understand why or what the threat is. Without the self-awareness to identify specific emotions, they struggle to comprehend why they’re reacting so strongly. Afterwards, they might not even recall their actions. To regain a sense of calm, they may engage in repetitive behaviours, increase stimming, or seek sensory comfort—these actions help them create predictability and feel safer.

As parents, it's important to understand that providing a perfectly predictable environment for your child at all times is impossible. While you may have control over what happens at home, day-to-day experiences like attending school or social activities are beyond your control. This means that your child will likely experience daily triggers that stimulate fear responses.

How does Play Therapy help with this?

At *SunRose Children’s Therapy*, I work closely with parents to reduce the overwhelmed and reactive behaviours that can disrupt your child’s world. My goal is to help your child lead a positive and joyful life while supporting them in understanding that who they are is perfect just as they are. As a clinician, I strive to offer a predictable and safe environment where your child can feel in control. This means consistent appointments in the same room, with familiar rules each week. Over time, your child will learn that this space is safe, predictable, and a place where their mind can feel at ease.

One of the key principles I emphasise to parents is that there is a great deal we can do to help reduce overwhelm and reactivity. While an ASD diagnosis may feel like your child is starting out without certain "pieces" to life’s puzzle, these pieces can be acquired. For instance, your child may initially struggle with social processing, but with acceptance, support from family, friends, teachers, and therapists, they can develop the skills needed to navigate the world and live a fulfilling life.

As a therapist, I am here to help co-regulate your child when needed, validate their experiences, and support them in understanding their world through language and concepts they can relate to. The structure of weekly play therapy sessions creates the ideal conditions for brain growth. In this space, I help children widen their window of tolerance, allowing them to integrate their experiences in a way that feels safe and manageable. Play therapy provides a unique opportunity for your child’s brain to form new, positive connections, helping to fill in the missing “pieces” of the puzzle.

For long-lasting change to occur in the brain, repetition is essential. My focus is not on changing the child to be "less autistic," but rather on fostering self-acceptance and a positive self-concept. I do not aim to normalise behaviours or enforce rigid consequences. Instead, I celebrate each child for who they are. By following their lead, attuning to their emotional needs, and helping them understand the cause and effect of their actions, I create a space for connection and growth. At *SunRose Children’s Therapy*, a model of therapy is integrated that combines play, nervous system regulation, and mindfulness, rooted in child-centred, experiential, and mindfulness theories.

Your child is much more than their diagnosis. They have complex personalities, and they can be intelligent, creative, and funny. Just like all children, they have unique dreams and aspirations. It may sometimes seem like they don’t want to connect with others, but often, the challenge lies in how difficult connection feels for them at a given stage. Other people can be unpredictable, and society’s unspoken rules don’t always make sense—why do we need to look someone in the eye for them to hear us, or use phrases that don’t seem to mean what they say?

Children with ASD are as tenacious, adaptive, and socially curious as any other child. They are capable of amazing change and growth when given the right environment. My work at *SunRose Children’s Therapy* gives your child a place to practise social processing, emotional regulation, and understanding the world around them. As they do this hard work, I support them, helping them feel safe as they push their boundaries and make sense of their experiences. With the stability of a reliable therapeutic relationship and a predictable, rule-based environment, play therapy offers your child’s brain the best opportunity to form positive neural connections. Over time, these new pathways can minimise some of the symptoms of ASD and help your child develop more natural social and emotional regulation skills.

In conclusion, while having a child diagnosed with ASD can feel daunting, I encourage parents to understand that this diagnosis doesn’t make your child “less.” It simply means they will have to work towards things that may come more naturally to others. There are always skills to build, goals to achieve, and ways to adapt. Where some may navigate life in a straight line, your child may follow a maze—but they will reach their destination. My job is to help them find the tools to navigate that maze and empower them to thrive on their own unique journey.

As a play therapist, I am privileged to witness the incredible strength and bravery of the children I work with. Every child, regardless of diagnosis or ability, strives for connection, understanding, and change. Play therapy may change a child’s brain, but the true power lies in the child’s courage to trust me and do the work, time and time again.