Children's play that goes unanalyzed within a psychoanalysis, yet leads to
therapeutic change, is contrasted with interpreted play that leads to consc
ious insight. The therapeutic and development facilitating effects of unana
lyzed play suggest that substantial analytic work goes on unconsciously. Te
chnical issues arise, therefore, if play is conceptualized as a therapeutic
force in its own right. Developmental considerations and inhibitions in pl
oy become greater considerations in analytic technique. Two clinical vignet
tes from the analyses of a latency-age girl and boy are presented to illust
rate unanalyzed play as an agent in development and mastery of anxieties.