Play Therapy

"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning.

But for children, play is serious learning."

-Mr. Rogers

Have you ever tried to talk to your kids and they just don’t have the words to express what happened?

That is because their cognitive abilities are still developing. Children use toys, games, and other play materials to communicate feelings and experiences that they may not be able to articulate verbally.

Benefits:

  • Emotional regulation

  • Improved communication skills

  • Enhanced problem-solving

  • Better emotional understanding

  • Healthy self-esteem

  • Processing trauma

  • Increased connection and social skills

  • Improved self-awareness

  • Decreased anxiety

  • Increased acceptance of consequences

What to Expect:

Child-centered play therapy: (3-10 years old) A non-directive approach in which the child takes the lead in order to explore and express themselves freely while the therapist follows and provides therapeutic responses to build awareness of their feelings, thoughts, and behaviors.

AutPlay® therapy: (depends on developmental age) A neurodiversity affirming framework in which the child participates in directive and nondirective activities to build skill development. Parents are an active role and will participate and learns skills alongside their children.

Three phases of treatment:

1. Assessment phase to build deeper understanding of child (parent intake session, family play observation session, individual play sessions)

2. Treatment phase to work on goals

3. Termination phase to provide closure (3-4 sessions).

Reasons to Seek:

  • Autism

  • Down syndrome

  • Learning differences

  • Anxiety

  • Sadness

  • Behavioral outbursts

  • Defiance

  • Trauma

  • Bullying

  • Grief/ loss