Why Play Therapy? 

It's natural. 

Play is a child's natural language; it allows for a full range of creative and emotional expression. When children are experiencing social, mental, and emotional challenges, it can be developmentally difficult for them to articulate their thoughts and feelings verbally. Children tend to show us how they are feeling through their behaviors. As a therapist, I am meeting the child at their developmental level of play rather than limiting their expression to words. The playroom is equipped with a variety of toys, art supplies, puppets, and a sand tray that are intentionally selected for therapeutic purposes.When children "play out" their experiences in a safe, therapeutic environment,  it can lead to healing and growth.

It's encompassing.

Play therapy has proven to be effective for a wide variety of children's symptoms including:

• Grief
• Trauma
• Sadness/depression
• Anxiety
• Attachment concerns
• Aggression
• Abuse/Neglect
• Low self-esteem
• Life Transitions
• Medical trauma
• Disregulation (impulsivity, inattention, etc.)  

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It works.

Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy across gender and race. According to the Association for Play Therapy, play therapy has numerous benefits. It allows children to:

• Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies.
• Develop new and creative solutions to problems.
• Develop respect and acceptance of self and others.
• Learn to experience and express emotion.
• Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others.
• Learn new social skills and relational skills with family.
• Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities.