What is Play Therapy?

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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

Ryan D Liberati

Saint Louis

Missouri

Thank you for your interest. My ideal client is motivated for change and open to exploring more about themselves. I specialize in LGBTQ, men's, and child/adolescent issues....
Need a space to connect that is safe & calm? Do you feel unable to take that next step alone? I get it. Our days can be full of emotional rollercoasters or at times simply be numb and without meaning or hope. I offer a place to rest, consider, and carefully address hurt in body, mind, and spirit. With evidenced-based treatments that are holistic, the changes you have been hoping for can happen....
Currently, I am NOT taking NEW clients. Trauma, life stress, and emotional difficulties can cause persons to encounter challenges at home, work, and school. Some experiences are routine, although sometimes events create less positive outcomes in family/peer relationships or school/work performance. Persons can feel overly worried or hopeless; engage in damaging behaviors; or face changes to...
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been practicing in the mental health field for 8 years. I have worked with adults who have co-occurring Substance Abuse and Mental Health concerns, HIV/AIDS, Probation/Parole. I have extensive experience with teenagers who have behavioral problems, mental health issue, and attachment dysfunction. My primary focus has been on helping youth negotiate...
Do you or a family member struggle with anxiety or depression? Would you like to enjoy parenting more and feel less overwhelmed? Does your child have trouble getting along with others? I provide individual and family therapy services for adults and children. Treatment often focuses on helping family members navigate and overcome issues related to behaviors, parenting, communication, relationshi...
“The fundamental principle in care of the soul is that the soul needs tending. If we do not tend to things in their suffering, and decay, we risk living the life of the walking dead.” ~Thomas Moore. As I acquire experience as a therapist, it has become apparent that the therapeutic relationship between the counselor and the client is crucial to the success of the client. Counseling is based on...
Welcome! I am dedicated to empowering you by first and foremost showing you unconditional support. Once this relationship of trust is formed, we can work toward healing old wounds and discovering your inherent self-worth. I enjoy working with adults throughout the life cycle and I have a passion for working with couples. My goal is to help you identify and remove obstacles so you can successful...

Tonja Vallin

Las Vegas

Nevada

**INTERN ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS, AVAILABLE ON THUR & FRIDAY ** Let's face it, life can be hard. Relationship issues, depression, loss of a loved one, illness, jobs that are unfulfilling or financial setbacks can all bring you down. Sometimes all you need is a fresh perspective. I would love to support you as we explore where you may be struggling and together how you can make the small increment...
I am driven to help you lead the life you are yearning for. Many of us can feel stuck and overwhelmed with life’s challenges but you are not alone in your journey to making a healthy change. I have over 7 years of experience working with children, teens, families, couples, and adult individuals in reaching their mental health goals. I help people overcome their fears, manage anxiety, cope with...
I have extensive experience writing letters and coordinating care for gender diverse individuals undergoing medical transition. I enjoy working with all ages, the LGBT+ population, and am especially experienced in working with individuals experiencing autism spectrum disorder, gender dysphoria, and eating disorders. I identify as being social justice oriented and primarily conceptualize my clie...
****Now Accepting New Clients September 2020**** Meeting the Clients where they are… Searching out and seeking help from a mental health professional can be scary and overwhelming. I believe the key to building a strong therapeutic alliance is meeting the client where they are. As a therapist my role is to provide non-judgmental unconditional positive regard, to help my client with exploring an...
Life brings challenges… sometimes all at once. We may not be able to control what or when things happen but there are tools that can help us make it through those challenges successfully. You (or your child) may be looking for a safe space to process your thoughts and feelings or to develop new behaviors in a non-judgmental, supportive environment. Therapy gives us an opportunity to learn, grow...
I look forward to working with you! My clients are individuals of all ages, although I specialize in working with children, adolescents, and college students and their varied needs and challenges. I can help with such issues as anxiety, grief and loss, social skills, depression, and life transitions. With children, I use many experiential and expressive techniques that produce results while bei...

Havah Henzler

Wilmington

North Carolina

( English | español ) Life can be tough sometimes. Let me be the person you can trust, the one who is going to listen to you without judgement. People are by nature relational. It is natural to feel like you need to express yourself and be vulnerable when life may not be exactly what you thought or hoped it would be. Talking to someone who is non judgmental and whose sole purpose is to come...
My ideal client is anyone who is struggling with a loss of hope and who cannot find meaning in his or her life. They may be struggling with depression, trauma, grief, addiction, relationship problems, or developmental issues that can affect individuals at any time across the lifespan. I also work with parents struggling with raising their children, and couples who struggle with communication...