The Power of Metaphor in Therapeutic Play for Children with SEMH and SEND

Children rarely say, “I am feeling emotionally overwhelmed by inconsistent attachment experiences.” Instead, they tell us there is a storm coming. Or that a monster lives under the table. Or that the superhero is fighting a battle no one else can see.

Metaphor is not avoidance. It is communication.

For children with SEMH and SEND needs, direct questioning can sometimes increase anxiety or shame. When asked, “What’s wrong?”, a child may not have the language or the safety to answer honestly. Metaphor offers distance. It allows feelings to be explored symbolically rather than exposed.

In therapeutic play, metaphor becomes a bridge. A locked door may represent fear. A broken bridge may symbolise disrupted relationships. A dragon may hold anger that feels too powerful to name directly.

By gently exploring these symbolic narratives, we begin to understand the emotional world beneath behaviour.

This approach is particularly important in school contexts, where children may feel watched, assessed or misunderstood. Therapeutic play offers a contained, relational space where expression does not rely solely on words. Through sandtray, storytelling, creative exploration and symbolic play, children can process experiences safely.