Association for Play Therapy (www.a4pt.org) defines play therapy as "the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development."    

The benefits of play therapy for children include:       

• A safe place in which to express their thoughts and feelings.   

• Facilitates the development of self esteem, problem-solving and coping skills. 

•  Supports emotional healing and growth.       

• Assists children with decision making skills and accepting responsibility.

• Develops a child's ability to explore and practice social skills.

• Fosters a child’s ability to make friends and to understand the world he or she lives in.

• Allows children to discover their natural, inner resources for healing. 

• Encourages children to be confident and focused.

• Fosters imagination and creativity.

•   A safe environment for children for whom talking is difficult.

  Jen’s approach to play therapy

  As a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor™, I have extensive specialized play therapy education, training, and supervised experience.

  How does a prescriptive approach look in play therapy? The same way! In directive play therapy, I structure activities by providing selected play materials and encouraging the child client to use them in their work. In non-directive play therapy, I provide a variety of play materials in my therapy room and follow the child’s lead. My accepting approach encourages the child to try new and more appropriate ways of dealing with concerns.

  I have completed a six-month course on  Synergetic Play Therapy® (SPT). SPT is a model of play therapy that incorporates nervous system regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, attachment, and therapist authenticity into the play therapy process. Please visit https://synergeticplaytherapy.com/ for more information

Hannah’s approach to play therapy

If you are here, you may already feel exhausted. You have tried calming strategies, rewards, and consequences, yet transitions still feel chaotic, emotions escalate quickly, and family life feels tense. You want to understand your child better, support them in meaningful ways, and feel connected again.

My approach to play-base therapy is grounded in child-centered and neurodiversity-affirming care. Children communicate through play long before they have the words to explain what they are feeling. In sessions, I follow your child’s lead and use play as a natural, developmentally appropriate way for them to express emotions, build regulation skills, and experience a sense of safety and acceptance.

Rather than focusing on fixing behavior, I focus on understanding the needs underneath it. When children feel seen, supported, and regulated, growth happens naturally.

Parents and caregivers are an essential part of the process. We will have regular check-ins to talk about what is coming up at home, answer questions, and share practical tools you can use between sessions. My goal is to support not just your child, but your whole family system, so daily life feels calmer, more connected, and more manageable.

I am working toward becoming a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) and have completed specialized training in play therapy. I am also trained in AutPlay® Therapy, a neurodiversity-affirming approach designed specifically for autistic and neurodivergent children and their families.

Families often share that, through this work, they feel more hopeful, more confident in their parenting, and more connected to their child. Change is possible, and you do not have to navigate this alone.