THE FRAMEWORK
The Play Prescription® Framework
Bring the child therapist lens beyond the therapy room.
A practical five-pillar framework grounded in play therapy, psychology and child development. Understand the child in front of you, what you bring to the relationship, and the conditions that support healing and growth.
Use that understanding to choose therapeutic play with purpose—in the role you already have with children and families.
UNDERSTAND THE CHILD, NOT JUST THE BEHAVIOUR
When another strategy isn’t enough.
You can care deeply about a child and still feel unsure what they need. Behaviour is only part of the picture. The child’s experiences, relationships and environment matter—and so does what you bring to the moment.
Created by Dr Sam Casey, Play Prescription® brings together play therapy, psychology and child development. It gives you a child therapist lens for understanding what may sit beneath behaviour and choosing therapeutic play for the specific child and challenge.
Use it in the role you already have with children and families. It is not a quick fix or a qualification to practise clinical play therapy.
The child therapist lens - practical and useable beyond the therapy room.
THE FIVE PILLARS
Five pillars. One way of seeing.
Understand your own story, look beneath behaviour, notice how you show up, consider the conditions around the child, and use therapeutic play with purpose.
These pillars work together. They help you decide what a child may need—not simply reach for another strategy.
PILLAR 1
Childhood Experiences
Our early experiences shape how we see ourselves, children and parents. Explore your own story, the beliefs you carry into relationships, and what a child's past and present experiences may mean for them.
Understanding your own history is part of understanding the child in front of you.
PILLAR 2
Needs Underlying Behaviour
Look beyond what a child does to understand what they may need. Consider their feelings, development, relationships and circumstances rather than assuming behaviour tells the whole story.
Stand with the child against the problem—with curiosity instead of blame.
PILLAR 3
Self-Commitment
How you show up for yourself shapes how you show up for children and families. Notice your own beliefs, stress responses and experiences, with both self-compassion and accountability.
This inner work helps you respond with intention rather than being carried by an automatic reaction.
PILLAR 4
Role of the Environment
Your environment can work for you or against you. Look at your surroundings, routines, and the support and resources available to you.
Notice what helps, what gets in the way, and what you can change so your environment supports you.
PILLAR 5
Therapeutic Play
Use the power of play therapy to choose or design therapeutic play for a specific child and challenge—not simply offer an activity.
Learn how child-centred and directive approaches can inform your choices, and adapt the play to the child's needs and the role you already have.
HOW IT WORKS TOGETHER
From understanding to purposeful play.
Childhood Experiences, Needs Underlying Behaviour, Self-Commitment, Role of the Environment and Therapeutic Play work together. They are not a checklist or a rigid formula.
01 · UNDERSTAND
Look beneath the surface.
Consider the child’s experiences, feelings and needs, the conditions around them and what you bring to the relationship.
02 · CHOOSE
Give play a purpose.
Choose or design therapeutic play for the particular child and challenge, within the role you already have.
03 · REFLECT
Notice and adapt.
Reflect on the child’s response and your own experience. Use what you notice to guide the next step.
The aim is to feel clearer about what may need attention—and to use play with intention, rather than reach for another generic activity.
QUESTIONS
Common questions about the framework
Is this play therapy?
Who is the framework for?
What ages does it apply to?
Is it evidence-based?
Do I need any qualifications to learn it?
Bring the Framework into your work.
Play Prescription® Certification helps professionals learn the complete method and apply the child therapist lens in their work with children and families.
Explore the programme, or read the research behind the work.