When a child is using a metaphor in a play therapy session, the counselor should

• A. Ignore it
• B. All of the above
• C. Use the child's metaphor
• D. Use a therapist metaphor

Answer: (C)

Metaphorical language in play therapy serves as a safe bridge to the child’s inner experience. When a child communicates through a metaphor, the counselor should meet that imagery with curiosity and reflect it back in a way that honors the child’s meaning. Using the child’s metaphor validates their perspective, invites deeper exploration, and lowers defenses because the feeling or problem is being addressed in the child’s own symbolic terms rather than through direct judgment or confrontation.

The next step is to gently elaborate on the metaphor and invite the child to expand it. Reflect the image back, name the emotions you think the metaphor signals, and ask open questions about what the metaphor is doing, how it feels, and what might help it change or improve. This honors the child’s voice and fosters insight through symbolic expression, which is central to the therapeutic process in play therapy.

Ignoring the metaphor misses a rich therapeutic entry point, and introducing a therapist-created metaphor too soon can shift focus away from the child’s meaning. Therefore, engaging with the child’s metaphor and using it as a springboard for conversation and intervention is the most effective approach.