Dr. Gangarosa-Emerson uses play in therapy to capture the child's attention and increase compliance. Once family and/or behavior problems have been addressed, some children may also be good candidates for Child Play Therapy. In PT, children are allowed the opportunity to work out individual issues in play with the guidance of the therapist.

Other children who have poor attachments may be good candidates for Developmental Play Therapy (DPT) where the therapist-child bond is used to increase positive attachments in the child's life with caring adults.