PLAY THERAPY

I am a believer that children are powerful, resourceful beings who have the ability to work through their problems and begin to heal when they are in a loving and supportive therapeutic environment. Play therapy allows children to do exactly this. I practice experiential play therapy, a type of play therapy that is non-directive, meaning I allow children to be self-directed in their play, trusting that children will navigate toward the toys and kinds of play they need in order to process their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and needs. When children are able to direct their own play, they are able to reframe their traumatic event or challenge, which can result in a renewed sense of self and well-being. Children do not process emotions or experiences on a cognitive level, so in order to confront their pain, it is important they are given the opportunity to do this through play.

Experiential play therapy can be helpful for children who:​

• ​are around the age of two to eight or nine years old
• have experienced a stressful situation or traumatic event​
• struggle with anxiety
• experience physical pain such as headaches, stomachaches , or some other pain for which a physician has been unable to identify a physical cause
• display sadness, moodiness, or depression
• have experienced a death in the family or close community
• have difficulty with sleeping
• struggle with low self-esteem or lack of empowerment
• struggle with eating or  have negative body image
• experience bladder or bowel control problems that have been determined to not have a physiological basis
• have struggles with their sense of identity
• have symptoms of obsessive/compulsive disorder

Play therapy sessions are typically 45-50 minutes long. I invite parents and/or caregivers to participate in a session without their child once every 4-6 play therapy sessions in order to discuss how things are going at home, and what progress is being seen in therapy with the child. Parent/caregiver sessions can be held in person or online. 

Contact cyndi to discuss if
​play therapy is right for your child