Play Therapy

Play therapy is an approach to therapy used to help children express their feelings and what is going on in their world. Play therapy can help process what has been on their minds, make sense of it and learn coping strategies in a safe environment that is fun and engaging. This approach helps children who have a hard time identifying and/or expressing their feelings when they are going through a hard time.

When I received my credential as a Registered Play Therapist(RPT™), I have received over 150 hours of play therapy training and I have over 1,000 hours of experience implementing play therapy. I use different types of play therapy approaches, including but not limited to Adlerian play therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy, Client Centered Play Therapy and Theraplay to resolve challenges that involve creating stories with metaphors, using games, music, artistic activities and toys to better make sense of their world.

Here is a 2 minute video that helps understand why play therapy is effective:

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of play therapy?

A Child's brain is not able to reason like an adult's brain. Play therapy helps children process their thoughts and feelings through play, a developmentally appropriate outlet for them to express their feelings. When children are able to name and process big feelings through play therapy, their nervous system calms down.

Here is an 8 minute video that explains more benefits and how play therapy work:

How can I prepare and talk to my child about starting therapy?

It depends on their age. First, your trust and restful attitude about going to therapy will help a lot! Next, try to let your child know “we go to therapy when we have big feelings at school or at home, it will help to feel better.” Let them know they are not in trouble, they are not going to see a Doctor (no vaccines nor getting teeth cleaned) and instead that they will visit someone at their playroom (or office with fun activities depending on the age)

Besides play therapy, what other modality do you use for my child to get well?

Besides play therapy, I utilize a variety of modalities with children including but not limited to CBT, DBT, ACT and Accelerated Resolution Therapy. If you would like to know more about play therapy, click here.

How did play therapy become your specialty?

I consider play therapy to be one of my specialties because during the years of 2020 to 2023, I obtained intensive training, supervision and received the Registered Play Therapist™ credential from the Association of Play Therapy (the only play therapy credentialing body in the U.S.). Before then, I first started practicing play therapy in 2011, when I was at my traineeship with Phillips Graduate Institute that sent me to provide therapy to children in HeadStart preschools.