Why Play Therapy?

Usually, when people think about psychotherapy, they imagine sitting on a couch in an office talking to a therapist about their problems. However, most younger children express themselves better through play than through words. Even very bright and highly verbal children may find it difficult to talk about situations when strong feelings are involved.  Our rooms have games, toys, clay, paint, doll houses, castles, cars, a sand/dirt pit, arts dress up and music. Sometimes, we will structure the play—for instance, by asking them to draw a picture of their feelings or by having them use dolls or puppets to act out an aspect of the situation with which they are struggling. Other times, we allow the child to initiate the activity and we will follow his or her lead, trusting that the child will use the play to address an issue that matters to him or her and which is connected in some way to their struggles. As we play with your child, we are always looking for deeper meanings and metaphors connected to their reasons for being referred to therapy.  The playroom becomes a safe space to express feelings, to problem solve, and to learn and practice new behaviors and to improve their ability to communicate their emotions and needs to others. It is a place where the therapist can model more adaptive behavior for the child and help the child to incorporate all of these new skills into his or her own life outside of the playroom.

How do I know if my child has school problems?

• Does your child have difficulty focusing when in class or trying to do homework?
• Does your child ever refuse to go to school or complain of stomach aches, headaches
  or other physical problems in order to avoid going to school?
• Has your child’s teacher ever reported that your child “acts up” in class – cracking jokes
  and being “the class clown”, disrespecting the teacher, or disturbing other students?
• Does your child have difficulty sitting still?  Does he or she fidget, walk around the
  classroom, or rock in his/her chair?
• Does your child often not complete homework assignments on time or at all?
• Do family arguments start around getting homework done?
• Is your child complaining of being bored in class?
• Does he or she complain that a class is too hard?
• Does your child have difficulties getting along with other kids at school? 
  Or with one or more particular kids?
• Does your child have significant complaints about his or her teachers or other school staff?
• Are you concerned that your child might be smoking, using drugs or alcohol, engaging in sexual behavior, or doing other concerning things during the school day?