Like talk therapy for adults, play therapy may involve processing feelings and experiences that are uncomfortable. While it may also be fun, that isn’t the goal. Saying “Have fun!” as your child enters the playroom, or “Did you have fun?” as they come out creates an expectation that fun is our goal. Their experience may have been incredibly valuable, but not necessarily "fun". Nor is it necessary to encourage your child to say, “Thank you” or “Good-bye”. While being polite is, of course, something we strive to teach our children, therapy is one place where it isn’t necessary. We want to limit expectations when children come to the playroom so they can explore their most authentic selves.
Please save your thoughts or questions about your child’s progress or difficulties for our parent sessions. While I understand the urge to catch up at the beginning or end of your child’s session, it is best not to have these conversations in front of your child. I do want to hear from you, so please schedule a call or share your updates, questions, and concerns at your next parent session.
If your child offers up information about their session, great. Otherwise try to refrain from asking them what they did or talked about it. We want the playroom to be a safe container, a little zone of privacy for your child. I will share general themes, observations, and any concerns during our parent sessions.
In Child Centered Play Therapy, we consider play to be the child’s language and how they interact with toys, their words. Therefore, I do not ask children to clean up as part of their session. I believe that asking them to clean up would be akin to a talk therapist asking their adult client to take their tear-filled tissues out with them. I am clear with clients they most likely have different rules at home and emphasize this is a special aspect of our play time together.
Play can be messy! Art activities sometimes involve paint, food coloring, glue, and glitter. Please keep that in mind when considering your child’s clothing choices.
Consistency is an important part of the therapeutic process and helps keep progress moving forward. Please make every effort to bring your child to all scheduled sessions, unless, of course, your child is ill.
There is just one parking spot available for this office. Please be considerate of the family arriving after your session and don’t linger too long in the waiting room or parking spot so the next family can start on time.
Please save your thoughts or questions about your child’s progress or difficulties for our parent sessions. While I understand the urge to catch up at the beginning or end of your child’s session, it is best not to have these conversations in front of your child. I do want to hear from you, so please schedule a call or share your updates, questions, and concerns at your next parent session.
If your child offers up information about their session, great. Otherwise try to refrain from asking them what they did or talked about it. We want the playroom to be a safe container, a little zone of privacy for your child. I will share general themes, observations, and any concerns during our parent sessions.
In Child Centered Play Therapy, we consider play to be the child’s language and how they interact with toys, their words. Therefore, I do not ask children to clean up as part of their session. I believe that asking them to clean up would be akin to a talk therapist asking their adult client to take their tear-filled tissues out with them. I am clear with clients they most likely have different rules at home and emphasize this is a special aspect of our play time together.
Play can be messy! Art activities sometimes involve paint, food coloring, glue, and glitter. Please keep that in mind when considering your child’s clothing choices.
Consistency is an important part of the therapeutic process and helps keep progress moving forward. Please make every effort to bring your child to all scheduled sessions, unless, of course, your child is ill.
There is just one parking spot available for this office. Please be considerate of the family arriving after your session and don’t linger too long in the waiting room or parking spot so the next family can start on time.