Therapy Dolls For Depression And Children’s Mental Health

Some form of therapy is usually the first recommended treatment for depression, a serious mental health condition that can affect adults, adolescents, and children. In some types of play therapy for children with depression, therapy dolls may be used as a treatment tool during sessions. Read on to find out how therapy dolls for depression in children may be used and what the potential benefits may be.

An overview of depression in children 

Depression is a mood disorder that can significantly impact how a person thinks, acts, and feels. According to statistics from 2020, about 4% of children (approximately 2.4 million) between the ages of 3 and 17 have been diagnosed with depression. Research suggests that children as young as two can experience depression. 

For a person of any age to be diagnosed with depression, they must have experienced symptoms for two or more weeks. Symptoms of childhood depression, in particular, may include: 

• Feelings of persistent sadness 
• Decreased energy, increased fatigue 
• Being irritable or grumpy 
• Sleeping too much or too little 
• A loss of interest in activities previously enjoyed 
• Trouble concentrating in school 
• Being indecisive  
• Withdrawing from loved ones (friends and family)
• “Acting out” through behaviors like defiance or disruptiveness 
• Physical symptoms such as headaches, loss of appetite, and digestive issues 

What are therapy dolls for depression in children?

Therapy dolls are typically life-like dolls used as therapy tools for people, especially children, living with certain cognitive, behavioral, or mental health conditions. They look like newborn babies, though their features may vary from realistic to abstract. 

Therapy dolls for other mental health conditions

Therapy dolls are sometimes used as a therapeutic intervention for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Doll therapy is also becoming an increasingly common treatment for various mental health conditions among other populations, including depression in children. 

Potential benefits of using doll therapy in treating depression 

Doll therapy can help kids act out and process distressing situations

Trained therapists can use them to help children express emotions or act out and process distressing situations. Using doll therapy, children living with depression can also learn new coping strategies and problem-solving skills to use in their daily routines. One study of children between the ages of four and eight suggests that playing with dolls can be equally beneficial for children of any gender in terms of building certain skills, including: 

• Cognitive skills
• Emotional skills
• Social skills 

Doll therapy can help parents experiencing mental health conditions related to miscarriage

Therapy dolls aren’t just an option for children; these therapy tools can also be used to treat depression in adults. For instance, therapy dolls made to look like real babies, such as Reborn dolls, may help parents experiencing mental health challenges after a miscarriage or stillbirth process their trauma through emotional expression. 

If you are experiencing trauma, support is available. Please see our Get Help Now page for more resources. 

Five ways to use therapy dolls for childhood depression treatment 

Below, we’ll discuss five ways that trained professionals may use therapy dolls to treat childhood depression:

• Expressive therapy
• Emotional control
• Connection and companionship
• Distraction from negative thoughts
• Managing empathy

1. Expressive therapy 

In expressive therapy, children with depression can use creative expressions such as art, dance, and music to process difficult emotions and lower stress levels. Children may not be able to fully verbalize how they’re feeling, so this type of therapy can give them another outlet for their thoughts and emotions. 

During drama therapy, a type of expressive therapy, therapy dolls can be used to help children create and respond to real-life situations. Children may participate in role-playing or puppetry using their “babies.”

2. Emotional control

Initial studies on doll therapy have suggested that it may reduce agitation and aggression while increasing engagement. While this research mainly focuses on the use of therapy dolls for dementia patients, the calming effect might transfer to mental health conditions such as depression in children, for instance. A child can use their therapy doll for emotional comfort by rocking it or giving it a firm hug (i.e., sensory stimulation).  

3. Building connection and companionship 

Research suggests that doll play can increase social-emotional intelligence. By using therapy dolls to practice social skills, a child may feel more prepared to interact with their friends or classmates in the moment, so they can build relationships with peers. They may learn how to navigate conflict and respond in situations where they may feel uncomfortable, for instance. 

4. Distraction from negative thoughts 

Child psychologist Jean Piaget once said, “Play is the work of children.” As a child engages with play using a therapy doll, they may be able to shift their focus away from the negative thoughts associated with their depression. A child at play can become so consumed in their game or activity that there’s little space left in their mind for negative thoughts. 

5. Managing elevated levels of empathy 

People with depression may have elevated levels of empathy to the point where they often place unrealistic blame on themselves. Using therapy dolls, caregivers and therapists can help children care for themselves and others by developing a healthy level of empathy.

For example, the therapist could have a doll “accidentally” make a mess and work with the child to act out how they would respond, encouraging them to have the same level of empathy for themselves as they do for the doll. 

Using therapy dolls alongside other treatments 

Therapy using therapy dolls is just one of many potential treatment options for childhood depression. A mental health professional can work with a child’s caregiver(s) to design a treatment plan best suited for a child’s individual needs. Below are some other options that may be recommended for children experiencing depression. 

Medication 

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a combination of psychotherapy and medication can be effective in treating moderate to severe depression in children and adolescents. Caregivers, healthcare providers, and the child, depending on their age, can work together to determine what medication (if any) will best meet the child’s needs.

Other therapy options besides therapy dolls for depression in children 

The American Academy of Family Physicians also recommends cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy sessions to treat mild childhood depression. During CBT, children may learn how to identify harmful thoughts and modify them to be more helpful. In interpersonal therapy, a child can learn how to improve their communication and conflict management skills to experience healthier relationships.

What the research says

To date, much of the research on therapy dolls has been focused on dementia treatment for older adults. Research in children tends to focus broadly on play therapy rather than therapy dolls in particular. More research may be needed to confirm the benefits of these dolls for depression treatment in children. 

Benefits reported for children with depression

A quasi-experimental study published in the Journal of Nursing Reports in Clinical Practice found that children with depression related to chronic illnesses showed significant mood improvements after a play therapy intervention. Researchers concluded that play therapy helped alleviate the stress, fears, and worry associated with the child’s physical illness.

Treating depression through online therapy 

Therapy is often recommended for treating childhood depression–– and not just for the child. Sometimes, parents and caregivers need additional help managing their own emotions and mental health challenges so that they can provide the best emotional support for their child. However, finding a provider who can work around the schedule of a busy parent is often challenging.  

Online therapy can offer an alternative route to finding a suitable mental health professional and working sessions into your schedule. With a platform like BetterHelp, you can get matched with a licensed therapist whom you can meet with from anywhere you have an internet connection at a time that works for you.  

Moreover, online depression therapy has been suggested to be as effective as traditional therapy in many cases. For example, a recent study found that online acceptance and commitment therapy, in particular, could be beneficial for parents of children with chronic conditions like depression.