Play Therapy

Play is a child’s language!

Play therapy is a therapeutic approach used primarily with children, to help them express their feelings, thoughts, and experiences through play and creative activities. It recognizes that children may have difficulty verbalizing their emotions and may not have the cognitive or communication skills to express themselves in the same way adults do. This approach fosters unrestricted expression, allowing therapists to observe a child’s choices, and their behaviors. Play therapy provides them with a safe and structured environment, where they can use toys, art, games, and other creative tools to communicate and work through their challenges.

While it may look or seem like children are “just playing” they are communicating and processing their world with a licensed mental health professional. The therapist provides a different type of relationship with the child than they are used to, one that focuses on facilitating the inner growth of the child. This is shown through patience, understanding, respect, and acceptance in the child. Play therapy helps children to express and explore themselves to reveal what they’ve experienced in the past, how they’ve reacted to these experiences, what they’ve felt about these experiences, and ultimately what they need, want, or wish to come of it.

When we allow children to process their world naturally we’re acknowledging and validating their experiences. We are saying to the child: We’re here for you, and we understand.

Things to consider:

Change takes time—and often, it begins in the playroom. While we all wish there were a magic wand to make things better instantly, true growth doesn’t work that way. Children are the experts on their own experiences, and they move at their own pace. When we honor that pace, we empower them to explore, express, and make sense of their world freely.

This process fosters essential skills like decision-making, self-control, and autonomy. But before children can apply these insights outside the therapy room, they first need to experience safety and connection in a space free from judgment—where their inner world is seen and respected.

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Play Therapy Benefits?

● Enhance accountability for behaviors and acquire effective strategies.

● Fosters the development of innovative solutions to problems.

● Cultivate self-respect and acceptance, as well as respect for others.

● Enhances abilities to experience and express emotions in a healthy manner.

● Foster empathy and appreciation for the thoughts and feelings of others.

● Acquire new social and relational skills within the family context.

● Cultivate self-efficacy, leading to increased confidence in their abilities.

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“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning” — Fred Rogers.

Meet our Play Therapy Team

Ashley Hembrock
MS, LPC-Associate

Flora Lai /賴沅萱

Plano | Telehealth
EMDR | Play Therapy
Children I Teens I Adults

The duration of each play therapy session may vary, typically lasting around 30 to 50 minutes. These sessions are commonly scheduled on a weekly basis. Research indicates that it usually takes an average of 20 play therapy sessions to address the issues of an average child seeking treatment. However, some children may show faster improvement, while more complex or persistent problems may require a longer duration to resolve.

Therapeutic play fosters improved communication, behavioral adjustments, problem-solving proficiency, and positive interpersonal connections for children dealing with social or emotional challenges. It proves beneficial for children facing stressful events or situations. Play therapy effectively supports children grappling with academic and social issues, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, attention deficit disorders, or those on the autism spectrum.

Play therapy is typically non-directive, meaning the therapist allows the child to take the lead during play sessions. The child has the freedom to choose the toys and activities they want, giving them a sense of control and autonomy.

Directive play therapy involves more active input from the therapist to expedite results. Play Therapists employ both approaches based on the specific circumstances they encounter.

Just like you go to the doctor whenever you are feeling sick, play therapy is a place to explore your emotions and behaviors. Play therapy is a time in which you can talk or play with the toys in lots of the ways you like. In play therapy, you will meet (provide name of play therapist here) and you’ll be in the playroom with them. Play therapy is a place where you can share whatever is on your mind or play in ways to share how you feel.

You can also introduce play therapy to your child through Dr. Ray’s Introduction to Play Therapy for Children HERE

In play therapy for children, the caregiver holds a significant role. Initially, the therapist conducts an intake interview with the caregiver(s) to gather essential information about the child. In many cases, a separate interview with the child is also conducted to gather additional insights. This process allows the therapist to assess the child before commencing treatment and determine the most suitable approach. Inside the playroom, the child is encouraged to engage with carefully chosen toys, specifically designed to promote self-expression and facilitate the development of positive behaviors.

The play therapist will assess and determine the extent and timing of involving some or all family members in the play therapy process.

What can caregivers do to support? Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in supporting their child during therapy and beyond. To create a nurturing environment, they can:

Maintain regular communication with the therapist, meeting for parent/caregiver consultation (every 4 or 6 play sessions) occasionally to gain a deeper understanding of the child’s progress, discuss goals, address concerns, and adjust the treatment plan as necessary. By working as a team with the therapist, caregivers can create a nurturing environment and support their child effectively during therapy and beyond.

Foster a Supportive Home Environment: Identify triggers for challenging behaviors and implement effective strategies at home with the therapist’s help.

Approach with Empathy: Understand that behavior change takes time and be patient and supportive throughout the therapy journey. It is important for caregivers to know not to ask if the session went well. Instead, let children choose if they want to share.

By following these strategies and working as a team with the therapist, caregivers can promote positive development in their child.

We know school is important and we understand your worry about your child missing part of the school day due to the potential of missing important schoolwork and lessons. However, we also value the importance of mental health and the difficulties it can contribute to a child performing to the best of their abilities within the school environment. Allowing your child to come to therapy then return to school or leave school a little early, you’re prioritizing their mental health and overall wellbeing. This can also give your child a chance to regulate themselves or release any emotions before returning to school. While we will do our best to provide after school appointments to best meet your schedule, sometimes the scheduling of a child’s session proves to be easiest during the school day. If you do decide to bring your child into weekly sessions during the school day, your counselor can provide an excused absence note for each session to turn into your child’s school office.

Please note we adhere to the Texas Administrative Code Rules:

TEXAS STATE BOARD OF EXAMINERS OF PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS

RULE §681.35 (c) Prior to the commencement of counseling services to a minor client who is named in a custody agreement or court order, a licensee must obtain and review a current copy of the custody agreement or court order, as well as any applicable part of the divorce decree. A licensee must maintain these documents in the client’s record and abide by the documents at all times.

There will be no exceptions as it is an Ethical requirement of our license.

READ OUR PRACTICE POLICIES IN RELATION TO MINORS HERE

Child’s Therapist: is here to help your child through the emotional stress and process the changing family and parents divorce. Therapists are not here to help decide custody agreements.

Child’s Teachers: are there to teach your child and should only be involved to the extent they know there is a divorce as this may impact your child’s school performance.

Your Attorney: is there to help advise you on the legal aspects of the divorce process.

A Divorce Coach: can help you with communication strategies.

A Co-Parenting Counselor: is there to help you and your ex or soon to be ex learn how to communicate to the best benefit of your child as co-parents.

A Guardian ad Litem: is assigned by the court to investigate custodial interest of your child and is someone to cooperate with fully as requested by the court.

A Custody Evaluator: may be assigned to help evaluate the fitness of the parent and your child’s needs in light of a custody dispute.

A Judge: has the final decision on all matters related to the divorce and any orders issued should be fully regarded, respected and followed.

While we would love to help as many children as we can, unfortunately if your divorce decree/custody agreement states that both parents have the right, subject to the agreement of the other parent, to consent to psychiatric and psychological treatment of the child, we cannot see your child.

Frequently Asked Questions

We strive for your child’s Play Therapy experience to be effective, please view these common questions.

What if the family needs support?

Child-Parent-Relational Therapy can help.

CPRT is a form of Child-Centered Play Therapy that focuses on strengthening the parent-child relationship while helping children address emotional and behavioral issues. CPRT is designed to empower parents with the skills and techniques to effectively connect with their children, understand their emotions, and provide support in a nurturing and responsive way.

The therapy process typically involves a series of sessions, during which parents learn and practice CPRT techniques to enhance their relationship with their child. Ultimately, CPRT aims to create a more loving, understanding, and connected parent-child bond while addressing the child’s emotional and behavioral needs.

Learn More

What The Therapeutic Process Can Look Like

Step One:

Schedule A Free Consultation. After reading about our policies and information on working with minors, schedule a free consultation. This is a brief phone call to discuss your family’s needs and to decide which service or therapist is best for you. You can also verify your insurance if you are interested in using insurance. You can do that HERE.

Step Two:

Initial Caregiver Consultation. After getting matched with a clinician the next step is to have an initial parent/caregiver consultation. This is where you will go over background information, learn about your current parenting styles, and discuss the goals for your child and family. This is also the time to discuss scheduling your child’s weekly appointments.

Step Three:

Therapy Sessions for Your Child. Consistent weekly sessions are important to see therapeutic growth. Research shows that it takes an average of 20-24 therapy sessions for therapeutic goals to be met. In some more severe cases or if a new life event happens, it can take longer.

Step Four:

Follow-up Caregiver Consultations. Working as a team with your clinician is an important part of the therapy process. These meetings are for you to discuss any setbacks, progress, and to help understand some of your child’s world. This may also include any recommendations.

Step Five:

Termination/Graduation Process. Eventually there will be a time when therapy services are not needed. This is an important step and can help the client transition easily out of therapy. We want the child to see therapy as a resource that they can come back to if needed. This process usually last between 3-5 weeks. During these weeks your child will be able to process their feelings around therapy and the therapeutic relationship ending so that it is not abrupt. Sometimes abrupt endings lead children with lingering feelings or unanswered questions.

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What If I Still Have Questions?

No confidential information, only general questions here

Play Therapy