PLAY THERAPY

Play therapy is based on the premise that “play is a child’s natural form of communication”. By using evidence-based play techniques a therapist can support the child in emotional expression, adaptive processing, healing, and the learning of new skills. This is done by the therapist communicating with the child through play, in a variety of capacities: such as stories, puppets, sand trays, art activities, and games, to name a few. Play therapy is geared to provide children with a language that feels safe and developmentally appropriate for them to communicate about their feelings, thoughts, and experiences. This provides children with a sense of empowerment and supports the building of therapeutic rapport in order to gain understanding and coping tools for the “big feelings” to support emotional regulation, as well as healing from difficult, stressful, or challenging experiences. 

Play therapy provides interventions to support children in individual therapy session, but also has the capacity to support dyadic activities, which include the child and parent(s)/caregiver(s) in session. I incorporate Theraplay® and Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy techniques in order to support healthy connection, understanding and communication, and emotional (co)regulation.

As a Certified Play Therapist, I am able to incorporate playful techniques throughout sessions to ensure your child is engaged in a manner that is developmentally appropriate, builds feelings of safety and empowerment, while also incorporate fun and joy. This helps us make important therapeutic gains, while creating a space that feels safe and fun for children to participate. 

Please reach out to learn more about Play Therapy and how this may support your children.