playing from the bottom up
A Developmentally Respectful Approach to Healing and Growth
Overview
Playing from the Bottom Up (PFTBU) is a comprehensive, neurobiologically informed training series designed to help therapists integrate play therapy with principles of neurobiology, development, and attachment. This series equips therapists with the knowledge and confidence to provide developmentally respectful, whole-person treatment that fosters healing, growth, and resilience.
No matter their approach — directive, non-directive, or integrative — this series is designed to help therapists confidently navigate four key questions in their play therapy practice:​
what
DOES THIS CHILD NEED TO SUPPORT OPTIMAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT?
Every child has unique strengths, challenges, and needs. This question helps therapists assess their developmental stage and determine the most effective ways to support growth.
which
INTERVENTIONS WILL BEST SUPPORT THE MEETING OF THESE NEEDS?
With so many therapeutic tools available, it’s important to understand how to select interventions that align with the child’s needs, therapeutic goals, and developmental stage.
WHY
AM I CHOOSING TO USE THIS INTERVENTION?
Understanding the neurobiological rationale behind treatment choices allows therapists to feel confident and grounded in their approach, ensuring interventions are purposeful and effective.​
WHEN
IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE TIME TO USE A PARTICULAR INTERVENTION?
Timing matters—both throughout treatment and in moment-to-moment session decisions. Introducing interventions at the right time enhances their impact and respects the child’s readiness for healing.
What "playing from the bottom up" means
Playing from the Bottom Up reflects the core philosophy of this series—supporting growth and development in a neurobiologically respectful way. Inspired by the work of Dr. Bruce Perry, this approach highlights the importance of neurosequential treatment, meaning therapy should honor the brain’s natural developmental sequence, from the bottom up.
Just like building a house, each stage of development depends on the successful completion of the one before it. We wouldn’t start with the roof before laying the foundation and building the walls. Similarly, when early developmental needs go unmet, expecting higher-level skills—such as emotional regulation, problem-solving, or behavioral adaptation—to emerge can be ineffective or overwhelming. By honoring this natural progression, therapy creates the conditions for growth, resilience, and long-term well-being.
This approach recognizes that interventions can be applied from both bottom-up and top-down perspectives. A top-down approach focuses on cognition, reasoning, and behavior first, using techniques like talk therapy or problem-solving strategies. A bottom-up approach prioritizes body-based, sensory, and relational interventions that support foundational regulation and connection before engaging higher-order thinking.
However, Playing from the Bottom Up does not mean all clients require a purely bottom-up approach. Instead, it emphasizes meeting each child where they are developmentally and making intentional choices about treatment—from moment-to-moment interactions in play to overall clinical planning. Because play is the language of the child, it allows us to engage children in ways that feel natural, safe, and developmentally appropriate. Play is uniquely powerful in this process, as it can adapt to meet a child’s needs at any level of development—whether they require sensory-based strategies first or are ready for more cognitive-focused interventions.
This isn’t just another tool to add to your toolbox.
It’s a framework for organizing what you already know, clarifying when and how to implement interventions in a way that supports optimal growth, healing, and long-term success. No matter where a child needs to start, play therapy provides a respectful, effective, and brain-aligned path to foster positive developmental change.
The key is ensuring that therapy aligns with how the brain develops and heals best, creating a strong foundation for meaningful, lasting transformation.
the process
The Playing from the Bottom Up training series follows a sequential learning process, ensuring therapists build a strong foundation before advancing to more specialized topics. The immersive six-day foundational training — split into two three-day segments — is a prerequisite for the rest of the series.
Participants who complete the foundational training will also gain access to an ongoing community of like-minded clinicians who prioritize trauma-responsive, attachment-informed, and neurodevelopmentally respectful care. This space provides opportunities for continued connection, collaboration, and support as you deepen your clinical work.
