Play Therapy is the use of playtime where a therapist applies their therapeutic techniques to children. It's a method that involves using toys, imaginative play or make-believe, and other activities that help children feel at ease when with the therapist. With play therapy, a therapist can observe, interact, help children understand their emotions, find ways to express themselves to adults, discover coping mechanisms, or deal with past trauma.

Directive Play Therapy

This form of play therapy involves the therapist having much greater involvement during a session. It may be intrusive, as the therapist may share specific instructions on how a child should play in the playroom. It is believed that directive play therapy will yield therapeutic results much faster than Nondirective Play Therapy.

Nondirective Play Therapy

A non-intrusive style of play therapy that involves very little instruction from the therapist. It's believed that a child can solve their own issues given that they have more freedom of play and that therapeutic conditions are favorable. Nondirective sessions will allow the child to take things at their own pace.

The Play Therapy Process

Play therapy is often used with children who are between 2 to 12 years of age and will differ depending on the needs of the child and the kind of play they will engage in. The process is broken into phases, with an intake interview and pretreatment assessment being conducted first to determine the unique needs of the child.

• Introduction Phase
  The child is given a chance to get used to their therapist, their playroom, and to understand the play therapy process. This will be a difficult time for most children since parents won't be present.
• Tentative Phase
  Once a child is willing to share what they are thinking and feeling, the therapist lets them communicate in the way they choose during play. The therapist will take note of the child's interaction with toys, the theme of play, and any change in behavior.
• Negative Reaction Phase
  As play therapy progresses, the child may become comfortable enough in the playroom to fall back to old patterns and behaviors. It is essential that parents provide their children with a lot of support during this phase.
• Growing Phase
  By this phase, a child will be aware of their difficulties and will have a better understanding of what they can do to change them. This part of play therapy is typically longer and harder because a child will often go back and forth between advancing and regressing.
• Termination Phase
  Once this phase is reached, the child should be at a point where their behavioral and emotional aspects have become consistent and balanced outside of the playroom. This will be a hard phase for children because of the attachment they have made with the therapist.

During the whole process, the play therapist will be relying on the parents to provide news of their child's behavior, both good and bad, to determine the progress of the treatment.

We aim to reduce as many barriers as possible, including financial ones, by accepting most major insurances.

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Most insurances do not require a referral to see a therapist.  Simply make an appointment and being your journey.