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

Not currently accepting new clients. We often think of childhood as a time of simplicity, joy, curiosity, and play. Yet for many, it is a time of stress, trauma, anxiety, and/or anger. Impulsivity, attention difficulties, learning delays, anxiety, and aggression often impede success at school, disrupt family relationships, and hinder friendships. My goal, as a play therapist, is to assist your...
Therapy is a unique experience aimed at helping clients understand their emotions as well as learning that our symptoms are telling us something. It is the collaborative relationship between therapist and client that allows each client to explore not only their symptoms but understand ones self, while obtaining valuable tools to deal with emotions, conflict, and interpersonal communication. In ...
I work with children, adolescents, and adults. I admire those seeking positive change and personal growth in their lives. It is a privilege to provide support and guidance to people working to better themselves and to connect to others in such a meaningful way. Counseling is a collaborative process in which a strong therapeutic relationship is vital to successful client outcomes. I am strengths...
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Adrien Steele

Richmond

Virginia

I'm ready to work if you are! I am willing to commit to your therapeutic process and be a supportive sounding board. I believe in providing a safe and compassionate environment where you can be free to explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors to combat ongoing suffering. The goal is for you to become confident in yourself and your decision making skills, while developing balance and the...
I am a solution focused, clinical social worker who seeks to help my clients restore balance within themselves and their environment. Establishing realistic goals helps to pave the journey we take together between client and therapist. It is inevitable for life to provide some type of challenge and I am here to help my clients navigate their struggles utilizing a variety of coping skills develo...
Life is difficult right now. I would be honored in being able to support you in promoting psychological wellness, including experiencing more joy, gratitude, fulfillment, and authenticity. I have substantial experience and expertise in working with children, adolescents, young adults, adults, and their families. I work well with those experiencing difficulties with anxiety, depression, mood,...
I have worked with many patients over the years who have had multiple fears and anxieties that control their daily lives. Learning how to have mastery over fears so that the fears do not control us is an important part of therapy. Sometimes personal fears cause conflicts in relationships with significant others. Learning how to support and care for each other is especially important during the...
( English | español ) (Not accepting new clients) There are days that you want to get away from your child and it kills you to feel this way. You sometimes think of the life you had prior to having children. You were less exhausted then. You didn’t think parenting would be this hard. Your child is having constant meltdowns and becomes upset over the littlest things. This happens almost daily. Y...

Ruth Schoder

Albuquerque

New Mexico

Let me help your child live the life you know they can achieve. I have been providing therapeutic services for 25 years. I am a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor who specializes in crisis intervention, emotional, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, self-esteem, grief, parenting, anger management, behavioral issues secondary to developmental disabilities, deafness, and issues...
Life has become extremely uncertain and more difficult in every way! If you are feeling stressed, anxious and scared, this is a great time to reach out and find support. My goal as a therapist is to help you navigate through challenges, make sense of your experiences, and even find the tiniest joys in the hidden in the day to day. I understand that these are historic times and there is so many...

Andie Mistler

New York

New York

Things may be going wrong, but there is nothing wrong with you. When we’re struggling it can feel like our pain is unique, that nobody could understand. We fear that sharing our darkest thoughts will leave us feeling alienated and rejected. Instead of reaching out, we try to fill the emptiness with food, substances, or perpetual busyness, only to find ourselves anxious, ashamed, and more alone...
I am licensed as both a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Clinical Psychologist. I started practicing psychotherapy in 1993 and I love the work so much I have never done anything else. In today's world we don't take the time to listen and get to know each other. We start to suffer from depression and anxiety because we are so disconnected from each other and ourselves. I am trying to change t...
I am currently on a waiting list for the next 6 weeks and cannot accept new clients at this time. I enjoy counseling individuals with a focus on personal growth, social connections, and wellness action planning. I typically work with children, youth, families, and adults at better managing symptoms of anxiety, depression, ADHD, low self-esteem, and family conflict. I utilize eclectic approaches...

Ajay Deven Dave

Oakland

California

I believe in an integral, post-modern approach to therapy that builds on the successes of conventional therapeutic methods and practices and incorporates understanding of trauma, social justice theory, somatics, attachment, neuro-diversity and more. I work with people of all ages. With children, I have focused on issues like emotional regulation, ADHD, and autism. With adults I work in a very...