The Power of Play: How the PLAY System Supports Mental Health and Connection

Discover the Science Behind Play and Its Role in Emotional Well-Being

At Analog Counseling, we believe in integrating the latest affective neuroscience insights to help our clients lead healthier, more connected lives. One of the most fascinating discoveries in this field is the PLAY system, identified by renowned affective neuroscientist Dr. Jaak Panksepp.

The PLAY system is one of seven core emotional systems in the brain, deeply rooted in our biology. It produces feelings of social joy, encourages creativity, and drives connection. But the benefits of play go far beyond fun—they’re vital for mental health, resilience, and survival.

What Is the PLAY System?

The PLAY system originates in the brainstem, where it creates the neurochemical experiences that drive primary emotions. These emotions form the foundation of our consciousness, helping us process the world even before we think about it.

The primary function of the PLAY system is contingency seeking—our natural instinct to explore, try new things, and adapt to challenges. This playful curiosity enhances problem-solving and fosters social joy, an emotion that signals health and well-being to the mind and body.

Play also strengthens our connections with others, serving as a building block for social bonds. Research even suggests that play may have contributed to the development of language, a core element of human interaction.

Why Fear Blocks Play

Despite its benefits, play becomes impossible in the presence of high levels of fear or anxiety. When fear takes over, the brain perceives risks as real and immediate, preventing us from imagining possibilities or experimenting with new ideas.

This rigid mindset can trap us, much like wet concrete hardening into an unchangeable form. Without the flexibility to “play” with possibilities, our creativity, joy, and connection suffer.

The Role of Play in Mental Health

Understanding the PLAY system reveals how essential play is for mental health and personal growth. Play isn’t just for kids—it’s a biological necessity for adults too. It supports emotional resilience, strengthens social connections, and promotes creative thinking.

At Analog Counseling, we incorporate playful and exploratory techniques into therapies like Somatic Experiencing, psychoanalysis, and Enneagram coaching. By reconnecting with your capacity for play, you can reduce stress, overcome fear, and rediscover joy.

How to Bring Play Back Into Your Life

If fear or stress is blocking your ability to play, consider incorporating activities that spark curiosity, laughter, or creativity. Try:

    •    Physical movement like dancing or yoga.

    •    Creative activities like drawing, journaling, or playing music.

    •    Social activities that involve humor or light-hearted interaction.

Therapy can also be a powerful way to overcome emotional barriers to play. With professional support, you can create a safe space to explore possibilities, heal from past trauma, and rediscover your innate capacity for joy.

Start Your Journey to Joy and Connection

At Analog Counseling in Kansas City, we specialize in therapies that restore balance and foster well-being. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, stress, or disconnection, our team can help you reconnect with the transformative power of play.

Contact us today to learn more about our services, including Somatic Experiencing, psychoanalysis, and online Enneagram coaching. Together, we can help you rediscover the joy, creativity, and resilience that come from embracing play.

Sources and Further Reading for Mental Health and Play

    •    Panksepp, J. (1998). Affective Neuroscience: The Foundations of Human and Animal Emotions. Oxford University Press.

    •    Panksepp, J., & Biven, L. (2012). The Archaeology of Mind: Neuroevolutionary Origins of Human Emotions. W.W. Norton & Company.

    •    Cozolino, L. (2014). The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment and the Developing Social Brain. W.W. Norton & Company.

Six things you don't know about play but need to

Most people don’t know that playing is a biological need and drive. In fact, PLAY is one of the seven basic emotion systems that our entire emotional lives are built on (in other words, PLAY is one of the seven basic tools we inherit at birth in order to survive - it's not trivial to play it's a necessity). All of this means that the PLAY system (when PLAY is capitalized it is referring to the brain system that produces an emotion, not an emotion itself) is a vital part of being a mammal and being a human. Here are six facts about playing that you might not know:

1. Even though play can come in tons of different forms (we can have intellectual play, sexual play, dramatic play, witty banter, etc.) its basic biological form is “rough and tumble play”. This is the chasing, wrestling, and physical type of play that we see the most in children (and maybe if you get down on the floor with your dog!).

2. Playing is a well researched option for helping to manage ADHD. The research suggests that incorporating rough and tumble play into the life of a child with ADHD can have strong positive affects on concentration and focus.

3. We learn how to live together through playing. Playing teaches us where the line is. Most play ends up in tears if you let it go long enough. That’s because eventually we lose the “as if” feeling when a line gets crossed. Those experiences teach us how to read each other and how to understand limits and rules that we later apply to living in society. We also try on roles in playing that we use later on. Often you see kids playing house or playing different parts of social hierarchy (e.g. cops and robbers, etc.). Playing prepares us for life together.

4. Empathy evolves out of playing. We develop our capacity for empathy from the PLAY system. Playing is governed naturally by a 60/40 rule. If someone is winning more than 60% of the time the other person will lose interest, feel bullied and disengage. The bully may take the toy but they won’t get the joy.

5. We need to play everyday otherwise our need for play builds up. If we don’t play today we will need to play twice as much the next day.

6. Playing produces social joy. Social joy combats despair. Making play a really good medicine for feeling down.