Play Therapy in Virginia

Play Therapy

Play therapy is a child-led, expressive therapy designed for children as young as 2 years old. As a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) I am specially trained and experienced in relating to children through play. Play is a child’s language. Instead of asking a child to meet me in my world, I step into theirs! Play therapy helps children express their emotions and experiences in developmentally appropriate ways. The play therapist gently supports and engages with the child through play to promote healing and growth. In play therapy, a child is not a problem to be fixed but a human to be understood. Many parents come to me seeking behavioral change in their child. Behaviors are a child’s communication. They are symptoms of underlying needs and emotional challenges. Play therapy gives children the opportunity to develop a more positive self-concept, deeper emotional regulation, language for their emotions, agency in decision-making, and social awareness. When this is the case, challenging behaviors are often no longer needed as part of the child’s communication. Play therapy also provides a child the safety to work through difficult emotions and experiences in a non threatening therapeutic relationship and environment where they can heal through their own unique process.

Play therapy is a widely researched and evidence-based practice that has been shown to be an effective therapy to improve mental health in children who need help with

• ADHD*
• Anxiety
• Trauma
• Autism*
• Depression
• Grief/Loss
• Life transitions
• Low self-esteem
• Stress
• Social Challenges
• Anger/aggression

*neuroaffirming approach to ADHD and autism

I see neurodivergence as a natural occurrence and a valuable part of a person’s identity, not a problem or diagnosis to be “fixed”. I work with neurodivergent children to help them thrive through their unique strengths and challenges without a goal of fitting them into a neurotypical mold.

Play Therapy FAQs

What is a Registered Play Therapist™?

A Registered Play Therapist (RPT)™ is a licensed mental health professional who has successfully completed all the requirements set by the Association for Play Therapy for credentialing.

RPTs have:

• A master’s degree (with course work in child development, theories of personality, child & adolescent psychopathology, cultural/social diversity and ethics).
• At least 150 additional hours of play therapy-specific continuing education.
• A minimum of 350 completed hours of play therapy experience under the supervision of a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor.
• Annual continuing education requirements to fulfill in order to renew credentialing.

How long and how frequent are Play Therapy sessions?

Play therapy sessions are 45 minutes long and occur on a regular, weekly basis to start. This is so that the sessions become a regular and dependable part of your child’s life, providing a sense of security, predictability, and consistency.

The main foundation of therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the client, and it is difficult to build a strong relationship without regular sessions. After your child has made consistent progress, it makes more sense to meet less and focus on maintenance rather than active growth/healing.

Do you accept insurance?

I have made the intentional decision to be private pay/out-of-network. This helps me provide you with the quality of care that you deserve. (Read more on why here.) I am happy to provide superbills for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement if your plan includes out-of-network benefits.

How will I be involved and receive feedback on my child’s progress?

Parent sessions (60 min.) are held regularly (frequency will depend on need and stage in the therapeutic process) where I will update you on your child’s progress in therapy, and you will update me as well. I will also provide parent coaching and support during these sessions.

Since I do not use the child’s session time to speak with parents, I also offer 15 min phone calls up to bi-weekly for parents to check in or provide important updates. There is no additional fee for these check-in calls.

Parents are also responsible for following up on therapist recommendations like getting their child psychological, neuropsychological or psychiatric evaluations, checking in with a pediatrician, or implementing new parenting strategies at home.

Is play therapy just my child playing with you for 45 min?

Play therapy, like talk therapy, is an organic process that can look like a normal activity like playing at home for a child or talking over coffee with a friend for adults. The difference is the way it is received and intentionally processed by a trained therapist. The play therapist is trained to reflect, engage, and process your child’s play in therapeutic ways that engage their brain’s regulatory and emotional systems and help the child externalize and work through problems safely through play. So often, yes, your child will be playing the whole time; with a purpose and a therapeutic guide. It is also important to note that the “play” in play therapy sessions is not always fun but is often the hard work of processing anger, grief, or trauma.