Play Therapy for Children and Teens in Charlotte, NC

Empowering Children Through Play

“Play is the work of the child”
— Maria Montessori

Somewhere along the way, your child lost their carefree attitude. You worry they’re not getting the ease of childhood they deserve.

Meltdowns, big feelings, and not listening seem to be getting bigger every day. You’re wondering if this is ‘normal’ or something more.

Your child knows every coping skill under the sun, but it feels like they’re purposefully refusing to use them.

You are in the right place.

Play Therapy: What it is and How it Works

Imagine asking your 4-year-old to sit on the couch for an hour to discuss why they hit their sibling. If you are picturing your child flipping upside down on the couch, responding ‘I don’t know’, or telling you about something totally unrelated then you’ve seen first hand why play therapy is such a valuable approach.

Play therapy offers an alternative, using play as a medium for communication, processing, exploration, and healing. It allows children to make sense of their experiences, express and release difficult emotions. Play therapy is supportive for many childhood concerns including anxiety, trauma, grief, aggression, social difficulties, and low self-esteem.

While adults might benefit from traditional talk therapy, children are not developmentally to talk through emotions for an hour. For them, play is their natural language, and toys are their words. Children might use the sand tray, dolls, dress up materials, puppets, or other toys to help them make sense of what is happening in their world and how to move towards healing. Each child is unique, so the approach to play therapy is tailored to meet their specific needs.

As a Registered Play Therapist, I am passionate about using the powers of play to support children. I primarily use child-centered play therapy and EMDR when working with children 3 years and older.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I work with children as young as 3 years old. I continue to use play techniques across the lifespan. Tweens, teens and young adults may enjoy art, sand tray, or talking instead of using toys. Children meet with me in the play therapy room, while tweens, teens and young adults will have a choice between the play therapy room and my more traditional 'grown up' office space.

  • Evidence-based play therapy involves the use of five categories of materials (Kottman, 2003):

    • family/nurturing, expressive toys, scary toys, aggressive toys, and pretend/fantasy toys. For the family/nurturing category, materials provide the child the opportunity act in the role of adult or child especially within family contexts, whether it be a meticulous role of sweeping and washing or the nurturing role of feeding and clothing.

    • Expressive toys and materials include arts and crafts materials and allow for expression of creativity.

    • Scary toys include materials that typically solicit fear in larger society such as spiders and snakes. Scary toys help children address their own fears and anxieties.

    • Aggressive toys, such as foam swords, or handcuffs, allow children to explore themes of power, control, and anger.

    • Pretend/fantasy toys such as dress up clothes, puppets, and medical kits allow children to deeply explore the adult world in a safe environment. (Empathy Well)

  • There are many ways to open up a conversation about play therapy. You may choose to use this video, use the script below, or come up with your own version. It is also helpful to show your child my picture and pictures of my office so that they know what to expect.

    Script: "Play therapy is a time in which you will come to the playroom to talk or play with the toys in lots of the ways you like. In play therapy, you will meet Margaret who will be in the play room with you. Play therapy is a place where you can be yourself and play in many of the ways you'd like.

  • You are one of the most important people in your child's life and on your child's care team. I support parents and caregivers in separate parent/caregiver sessions. This allows plenty of time for us to discuss progress and concerns candidly. Typically parent sessions are every 4 to 7 sessions, however they can be more frequent if needed.

    I am also trained in Child Parent Relationship Therapy to support parents in strengthening their bond with their child. CPRT parent sessions meet weekly or every other week.

Ready to get started?

Set up a consultation call so that we can discuss your concerns and ensure that I am a good fit to work with you and your child.

1.

Attend parent/caregiver intake session. We will meet for the first time without your child present so that you are able to share candidly.

2.

3.

Meet weekly during 45-55 minute sessions for your child. Every 4-7 sessions, we will have a parent/caregiver session to review progress and recommendations.