FAQs

Children have to sometimes face difficult times and adjust to changes as they grow. Therapy can be very beneficial in helping your child work through these difficulties. Often your pediatrician or school counselor will recommend therapy to help your child.

Some signs parents should look for that could indicate a need for therapy:

• Age inappropriate tantrums
• Aggressive behavior
• Fears or phobias
• Anxiety (social or separation)
• Low self-esteem, child making negative remarks about self/others
• Difficulties with friends
• Eating issues
• Sleep disturbances
• Bathroom problems
• Physical complaints with no medical basis
• Difficulty adjusting to change
• Acting out behavior at home or school

It is often better to bring your child in for an evaluation now rather than to wait until he/she gets older and the problems worsen. Early intervention is the key to successful treatment.

Parenthood can be a constant worry. You may feel your child is not performing well at school; is constantly anxious or unhappy; doesn’t play with others or is unable to communicate; has a physical or learning disability; is exhibiting disruptive behaviors; or may be inattentive to others and their environment. Whatever your concerns may be, Play Therapy can help.

Play Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses play, a child’s natural mode of communication, to help them resolve their issues. Traditional forms of therapy may be very intimidating for a child and can cause added stress rather than actually resolving the issues that your child may be facing.

Play Therapy provides a safe place for your child to explore and learn about the world without judgment, offering a mode of expression that is familiar and more comfortable for the child. The Play Therapist works to form a strong bond with your child who provides them with a feeling of safety – a secure base from which they can work to explore and resolve, or at the very least manage, whatever may be troubling them.

Through the therapeutic alliance, the child’s inner resources are enabled and their trust and confidence will grow as they begin to independently explore the world, engaging more creatively in play, working through their issues, developing an understanding of the problems they are facing and learning how to come to terms with them.

Play Therapy holds your child with unconditional positive regard and will always work to bring out their strengths, enabling them to reach their full potential, regardless of any hindering issues that they may have. Within the Play Therapy room, your child will begin to understand the world, how to cope and how to respond, and this will in turn transcend into the outside world, leading to a full and healthy life.

The recommended ages for children to engage in play therapy are 2 – 12 years of age.

The length of treatment varies for each child depending on the presenting issues and the individual needs of your child. Generally, when a child reaches the initially established goals and positive changes are observed then the therapy sessions can be reduced and then concluded. This will be discussed with the parent as the process unfolds. Recognize that therapy is a process. Results are important and anticipated, but your child’s growth cannot be rushed or hurried.

An initial telephone conversation takes place with the parent (or an in-office parent consultation can be scheduled). Then the child is scheduled for an approximately one hour psychotherapeutic evaluation.

During this first session, the therapist will observe and interact with the child at play in the specially designed playroom. After the evaluation, the doctor and the therapist will call the parent within 3 – 5 business days with a verbal evaluation and feedback from the child’s first play therapy session.

At this time it will be determined whether or not the child would benefit from the treatment, and if so how. Then the therapist will generally schedule the child to have therapy one time per week for 45 minutes.

Child therapy is referred to as client-centered, meaning the child selects which toys, games, or activities he/she would like to explore. The only rules are that the child cannot purposely destroy the toys, hurt him/herself, or hurt the therapist. The child engages in the play of his/her choice. The therapist encourages, reinforces, and reflects back the child’s feelings or inner conflicts.

Most children enjoy the freedom to explore, play and create in a fully accepting, empathetic and understanding atmosphere. The play therapy can help a child gain control or understanding of difficult situations.

Will the therapist be meeting with just my child or can the parent come into the room and participate?

Similar to adult therapy where all information from the session is confidential, your child’s therapy will be private. Therefore, therapy sessions are conducted just with the therapist and the child and are specifically designed to focus on the individual child.

The parent will receive periodic updates via written message during the initial phases of treatment. Parents can also schedule an in-person parent consultation. General themes and concerns will be discussed. The therapist will not discuss the child’s session with the parent in front of the child or while the child waits.

Behavioral problem-solving strategies may be discussed so parents can reinforce the process at home. Any information that you share with the doctor regarding your child’s behavior and actions can help and will be held in strictest confidence.

Results will vary depending on the individual child and his/her presenting issues. In general, the negative behaviors that are identified (e.g., tantrums, aggression, or socialization problems) will lessen or become extinguished. The more positive or desirable behaviors should increase, so that the parents and the doctor will see visible positive change. The child may become more self-confident, more mature, and generally happier, with less stress and inner conflict.

Some parents see improvement after one session. Other parents see a more gradual improvement during the first few weeks. Often school staff sees positive changes and may convey this to the parents. The therapist can only speak to the school regarding the child’s progress if a written consent form is signed by parents.

Our practice is limited to children on an individual basis. However, separate sessions for siblings can be scheduled back to back.

Prices vary according to the services offered. Available services include:

• Psychotherapeutic evaluation
• Weekly sessions (45 minutes)
• Short sessions (3 minutes)