Play Therapy is an approach to counseling utilized for children. Children learn to understand the world through play. Play Therapy embraces play to facilitate therapeutic interventions. Play can include games, dolls, art activities, sports, make-believe, or any other activity that fits a child developmentally and emotionally.
Play Therapy can be beneficial for children with behavioral issues. Because these children might not have the words to communicate their feelings or might not want to, this allows them a space to express themselves and share their feelings through play.
Play therapists get to know the child’s specific interests and can tailor their counseling space to make it unique for each child. As the counselor observes and interacts with the child, they can understand the emotions that lead to their behaviors. Over time, therapists can encourage children to use play to express feelings instead of expressing them through inappropriate or harmful behaviors.
Play Therapy can also be used for adults to help them connect with their inner creativity and facilitate child-like joy.
Therapists Who Specialize in Using Play Therapy
Alexa Wernick
Brooklyn
New York
Alexa Wernick
Brooklyn
New York
I am a dedicated and creative provider of evidence-based therapy for children, adolescents, adults, and families. I have a certificate in Child and Family Therapy, extensive understanding of child development, and utilize modalities including cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, family systems theory, and talk therapy in my practice. I strongly value a team approach, collaborating with...
We often seek out therapy because we feel disconnected from others or from ourselves. Relationships may not be working out the way we want. We might feel we are not being the best version of ourselves when relating to other people. This can create anxiety, sadness, anger and other negative emotions. I create a supportive space to help you better understand yourself and your loved ones. Our work...
The times that we find ourselves living in would be stressful for anyone. Now combine that with pre-existing issues of depression, anxiety, or self-esteem and it might feel like it's too much to manage. Therapy is a great place to begin to build the skills that you need to manage your stress and care for yourself during these uncertain times. It can help you to build tools to manage relationshi...
Pamela M Cowan
AbingdonSan Francisco
California
Pamela M Cowan
AbingdonSan Francisco
California
PRACTICE FULL - I enjoy working with individuals, couples, and families experiencing upheavals in life due to transitions, family conflict, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression and stress. My style is direct and interactive, exploring connections between the issues you are facing now and older behaviors and patterns of coping that might no longer be working for you. Our work can also draw on...
Appointments available. It is extremely difficult to ask for help and takes extraordinary strength to reach out to a professional. I specialize in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults struggling with anxiety disorders, stress management, depression, life transitions, relationship issues, LGBTQ community, sports performance, and learning disabilities. I utilize evidence-based...
People pursue counseling and therapy for a variety of reasons. Some enter into therapy to address major life changes or to seek help in managing mental health conditions, while others may need assistance with everyday life occurrences. No matter the situation, circumstance, and/or stressor(s) that you may be facing, I will work with and counsel you right where you are. You will find that the...
Alyson French
Phoenix
Arizona
Alyson French
Phoenix
Arizona
What do you need to know about me? I have a personal belief that each person is unique and deserves to be treated with respect, listened too, and meant to feel heard and safe. It might help you to know that I am from a multi-cultural, multi-racial, blended family. Growing up in such a family has exposed me and sensitized me to experiences outside our dominant culture. I believe this makes me a...
“The value of emotions comes from sharing them, not just having them.” I am a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been working with children, adolescents, adults, and families for a number of years. I am fluent in English and Portuguese and I enjoy helping individuals from all cultural backgrounds. Clinically, I implement psychodynamic, person-centered, strength based and cognitive-behavior...
Alice Ellerbeck
New York
New York
Alice Ellerbeck
New York
New York
If you are struggling to succeed in work or school, having problems with relationships, dealing with anxiety, depression or loneliness, therapy can help you to get unstuck so that you can feel stronger and more in control of your life. In my practice I work to create a safe space where you can explore the things that are getting in your way, as well as identify the strengths that you already...
Rae Comeau Lpc-Intern Supervised By Wanda Montemayor
Austin
Texas
Rae Comeau Lpc-Intern Supervised By Wanda Montemayor
Austin
Texas
Rae Comeau, LPC-Intern, is a Professional School Counselor with over 4 years experience working with children and adults. She has been trained in various methods of therapy focusing on creating connection and addressing attachment trauma. She is currently in training to become certified as a Certified Imago Therapist, working with individuals and couples to help them reclaim their joy and...
I view the therapeutic relationship as a partnership, and find the relational aspect of therapy to be an integral piece in making strides towards meeting the clients needs and goals. Confronting the difficulties and pain in life is often challenging and uncomfortable—as such I strive to create a safe space for my clients to process authentically. I know each client is unique and work to meet th...
Helping people to achieve their full potential is my passion. In my nearly 20 years in the field, I’ve worked with a broad range of clients – from 5 year old children facing traumatic abuse to 100 year old Sisters suffering from dementia. I’ve helped homeless teen parents, boys and girls, men and women, people who weren’t sure who they were and people fighting to be recognized for who they are....
Who is running your life? Do you feel estranged from yourself and alone even among others? Exhausted, trying to keep this fragile ship of NORMAL afloat on the great sea of uncertainty? If you are facing these challenges and looking at Psychology Today, it is time for a new approach. It is time to turn your attention from the externals of life and focus inward. What you are looking for, is what ...
Alison believes in creating a collaborative and nonjudgmental space to help individuals and families process different challenges they have experienced or currently face in life, whether it is big or small. She primarily incorporates Symbolic-Experiential, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and body awareness interventions in her therapeutic style to help individuals and families express their hidd...