Play therapy
What is play therapy?
If you are looking for a therapist that specializes in children, then you are in search of a play therapist. Play is the medium that children express their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and behaviors, how they process their internal and external environment, and how they communicate. Play therapy is the most natural form of therapy for children. Through play, children are able to process current and past events utilizing their language of play. The therapists role in this process is to provide materials (sand tray, dress up, doll house, drawing, and other play room items) and a safe relationship, so that the child can fully immerse themselves in their world and express themselves through play.
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The Association for Play Therapy (APT) defines play therapy as "the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development."
WHAT you might be struggling with
Anxiety, Stress, Overwhelm
My child is having panic attacks, biting their nails and picking at their skin, not sleeping well, eating too much or too little, not focused on school, avoiding and/or procrastinating, they look lonely and are isolating
Difficulty regulating, expressing, and controlling emotions/
behaviors
My child is out of control, doesn't know how to calm down, rude and argumentative, pushes boundaries and doesn't listen, overly sensitive, mood is all over the place, can't put words to how they are feeling, getting in trouble at school, difficulty keeping friends
Life transitions, Big life events
My child has a lot going on, divorce, graduating, moving, changing friend groups, new sport, new school, blending families, new baby, my child has been through a lot, illness, trauma, abuse, death and loss
If you have been looking for tools, support, guidance, structure or a refill on hope and motivation, we can help you and your kids feel empowered and ready to make lasting changes. We all get stuck sometimes, dont wait till you and your kids are burnt out. You and your kids deserve to enjoy childhood and parenting.
The power of play
Play therapy allows us to enter your child’s world and experience life through their eyes. This lens helps us understand their struggles and conflict as we experience those behaviors and feelings alongside them. While we are immersed in their perspective, we create insight and awareness through identifying emotions and reflecting verbally what we see. This can helps kids who are struggling to put words to their feelings and also help them learn how to communicate how they feel rather than expressing themselves behaviorally. This type of therapy can also be more comfortable for kids who are hesitant or nervous to attend therapy, compared to more directive therapies.
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Maribel Hernandez has received extensive training in play therapy and sees children as young at four years of age. She has experience with trauma, life transitions, emotional regulation, behavioral challenges, ADHD, stress and depression.
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If you are looking for some parental guidance with your child, check out our parenting workshop. or individual parenting sessions with Katy Childs. She has training in PCIT (Parent Child Interaction Therapy) which focuses on
We are here to help you and your child be the best version of yourself. Get support now.
What the Play Therapy process looks like
INTAKE SESSION
The first session is with parents only, which allows you the opportunity to comfortably express your thoughts and feelings regarding any presenting concerns. Additionally, this session allows the therapist to learn more about the client and their history through the perspective of the parents.
SECOND/THIRD SESSION
These individual sessions will be with your child only and are considered “assessment sessions." The therapist will begin building rapport with your child and explore their thoughts and feelings. These sessions allow the client the opportunity to share their perspective. We believe that a person’s perception is their lived reality, which is why we create a safe space for your child to express and explore what their lived reality looks like through their lens.
FOURTH SESSION
The therapist will meet with the parents only. The main purpose of this session is to go over the treatment plan and understand tools.
PARENT SESSIONS EXPLAINED
When working with children, we believe that it is imperative that parents are included in the process. Since a child’s perception may not match that of their parents, you and your child’s therapist will meet once a month to talk about what has been going on over the last month. During these sessions the therapist will also provide parents with appropriate skills and tools based on what they have seen and practiced in session.
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NEXT SESSIONS
These will be individual sessions where your child and their therapist will unlock the therapeutic powers of play. Through play your child will begin to express and explore their authentic self and learn skills and tools.
TERMINATION
Once your child has achieved their treatment plan goals and there are no other goals left to work towards, your child will be ready to “graduate” from services. Ideally, this is a four-week process to give the child a few sessions to express their thoughts and feelings about ending this specific counseling journey.