The therapeutic powers of play creates an understanding of why and how play creates therapeutic change we believe this foundational knowledge is a pre condition to effective clinical decision making and treatment planning furthermore we believe the therapeutic powers of play should be listed as one of the required core content areas of study. Perhaps the major therapeutic power of play that has been described in the literature schaefer 1993 1999 is its communication power in play children are able to express their conscious thoughts and feelings better through play activities than by words alone children are naturally com. A practical look at how play therapy can promote mental health wellness in children and adolescents revised and expanded the therapeutic powers of play second edition explores the powerful effects that play therapy has on different areas within a child or adolescents life communication emotion regulation relationship enhancement and personal strengths. The therapeutic powers of play refer to the specific targeted aspects within treatment in which play initiates facilitates or strengthens the therapeutic effect based upon a review of the