That silence is so hard. Play therapy speaks their language when words can’t. A child I know processed his dad’s deployment not by talking, but by having toy soldiers “protect” a dollhouse for weeks. The therapist followed his lead, naming the feelings in the play. It’s about creating a safe space where big emotions can be acted out, not articulated. For finding a therapist skilled in this, the approach in this guide was really helpful, even though it’s framed for teens: signs your teen may need counseling . It emphasizes matching the method to the child’s world.