Healing Through Play

This literature review examines the application of play therapy as a modality for child refugee populations. The asylum application process in the United States is outlined to contextualize obtaining refugee status and eventually resettlement. It is imperative to recognize the range of experiences that child refugees undergo to appreciate how play therapy may be utilized. The present study suggests three main categories within a child refugee's experience: pre-migration trauma, trauma of fleeing, and post-migration challenges. Post-traumatic stress disorder and emotional dysregulation emerge as long-term repercussions when examining the consequences of these experiences. While the existing literature illustrates the potential of play therapy to treat child refugee populations, more research needs to be conducted to support this finding. The current scope of research also reveals the need for multicultural play therapy and specialized training for clinicians and multicultural toys.