Pokémon in a submarine: Role play as a bridge between the past and the future

This paper explores the therapeutic use of child-led role play in working with a 9-year-old adopted boy, referred to as Thomas. Through imaginative enactments involving submarines, cars, caves and Pokémon, Thomas created a symbolic world to process early trauma and relational disruptions. The play offered a space where difficult feelings—loss, disconnection and helplessness—could be safely explored without verbal interpretation. Grounded in psychoanalytic and trauma-informed theories (Winnicott, Panksepp, Malchiodi, Gil), the work illustrates how play enabled Thomas to revisit early developmental stages, enact control and symbolically repair disrupted attachment experiences. Repeated themes of “power loss” and recharging suggested deeper neurological and emotional experiences tied to neglect and early separation. The therapist engaged in the play as a co-participant, following the child’s lead without imposing meaning. This non-interpretive stance allowed for trust, containment and a shift from defensive fantasy to creative mastery. The hatching of a Pokémon egg symbolised a rebirth and new beginnings—offering integration and healing through the safety of imagination. The case supports the view that, for some children, healing occurs not through words but through the relational experience of play itself—where fantasy becomes a bridge between past trauma and future growth.