Healing Through Play
Play therapy is a modality for therapy developed
for children ages 3-12 that has been found
through rigorous research to be effective in
treating children for mental health symptoms. In
play therapy, a trained mental health professional
works with a child to alleviate mental health
symptoms using the therapeutic powers of play.
Children learn to communicate with others,
express feelings, modify behavior, develop
problem-solving skills, and learn a variety of ways
of relating to others. Play provides a safe
psychological distance from their problems and
allows expression of thoughts and feelings
appropriate to their development
Parent/Caregiver FAQs
We know that starting therapy for your child can bring many questions. Below are answers to common curiosities from parents. Please feel free to schedule a free 20-minute consultation to get all of your questions answered.
How does play therapy actually work?
Since play is a child's natural language, it allows them to express thoughts and feelings they may not yet have the words for. Through symbolic play, children process experiences, learn new ways of relating, and develop problem-solving skills in a safe environment. Play therapy allows trained mental health practitioners who specialize in play therapy, to assess and understand children's play. Play therapy is utilized to help children cope with difficult emotions and find solutions to problems. By confronting problems in the clinical setting, children find healthier solutions. Play therapy allows children to change the way they think about, feel toward, and resolve their concerns. Even the most troubling problems can be confronted in play therapy and lasting resolutions can be discovered, rehearsed, mastered and adapted into lifelong strategies.
What happens in a typical session? What types of play therapy are utilized?
In the playroom, children are greeted with a variety of carefully selected toys and materials. Your therapist follows the child's lead, providing a non-judgmental space where they can experiment with behaviors and express emotions through toys, art, and movement. I am trained in both directive and non-directive techniques (including Experiential Play Therapy, Child-Centered, Synergetic, and Cognitive Behavioral) and tailor the session to the child's specific needs and goals. I am also trained in the AutPlay therapy framework for working with neurodivergence.
How long and how often are the sessions?
Sessions typically last 50-55 minutes. For consistency and the best therapeutic outcome, we usually recommend meeting once per week, especially in the beginning stages of therapy. The length of therapy depends on the needs of each individual/family, but often lasts between 6-12 months.
Do parents join the therapy sessions?
While the actual play sessions are often just for the child to foster independence and safety, parent involvement is vital. We schedule separate parent consultation meetings to discuss goals, progress, and ways to support your child at home. If therapy goals are created that involve working on the parent-child relationship together, the caregiver will be included in filial play therapy sessions after preparation.
What about pricing and insurance?
To be as accessible as possible, Animal Heart Play Therapy currently accepts Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield, UnitedHealthcare, UMR, Aetna, Cigna, Rocky Mountain Health Plans Medicaid, Northeast Health Partners Medicaid, and Colorado Access/CHP+ Medicaid.
At this time, we cannot take Colorado Community Health Alliance Medicaid or Kaiser insurance.
Self-pay rate is $150 for a 55-minute therapy session and good faith estimates will be given before any services.
Therapeutic Powers of Play
Foster Emotional Wellness
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Allows for safe expression and release of feelings
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Counterconditioning fears
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Stress inoculation
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Stress management
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Encourages self-awareness and understanding of personal experiences
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Strengthens coping skills for stress and life challenges
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Helps process difficult or overwhelming experiences through symbolic play
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Supports resilience and the ability to recover from setbacks
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Helps children identify, name, and understand their feelings
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Builds emotional regulation skills for managing big feelings like anger, sadness, or worry
Enhance Social Relationships
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Helps children practice communication and conversation skills
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Encourages healthy emotional expression and understanding
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Builds empathy and perspective-taking
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Strengthens problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
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Supports confidence in social situations
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Improves emotional regulation during interactions with others
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Creates opportunities to practice cooperation and teamwork
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Helps children develop trust and secure relationships
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Reduces anxiety that may interfere with friendships or connection
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Encourages flexibility, turn-taking, and sharing through play
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Strengthens parent-child attachment and connection
Helps children better understand social cues and boundaries
Increase Personal Strengths
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Creative problem-solving skills
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Resiliency
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Moral Development
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Regulation skills
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Self-esteem
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Capability/competence
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Develop self-efficacy and thus a better assuredness about their abilities
Facilitate Communication
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Helps children learn how to communicate difficult feelings in safer, more adaptive ways
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Encourages reflection and meaning-making through guided therapeutic dialogue
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Supports clearer communication between children and caregivers in sessions and at home
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Helps reduce frustration that can come from feeling misunderstood or “not heard”
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Gives children a natural, developmentally appropriate way to express thoughts and feelings
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Builds vocabulary for identifying and describing emotions
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Encourages expression through symbols, storytelling, and play when words feel difficult
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Helps children practice asking for help and expressing needs clearly
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Improves listening skills through interactive and reciprocal play
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Supports turn-taking and back-and-forth communication in relationships