Play Therapy
Child Therapy for children ages 3-12 years old
Acorn & Oak Counseling provides play therapy, the most developmentally appropriate approach for helping children experiencing behavioral, emotional, relational, or social issues.
Benefits of Play Therapy
Play therapy invites your child to express themselves through the language of play. We tend to think of therapy as “talk therapy” which is often uncomfortable and a developmental mismatch for helping your child work through the issues that bring them to our office. Specifically suited for children ages 3-12 years, Child Centered Play Therapy focuses on the therapeutic relationship between us and your child in tandem with the play therapy room – the toys, games, and activities specifically selected for the playroom to give your child the freedom to explore and express themselves in ways they wouldn’t be able to with words.
A universal approach to treat most childhood issues, Child Centered Play Therapy has been proven to increase children’s ability to name their emotions, regulate their emotions, increase self-esteem and understand how their actions impact themselves and those around them, while simultaneously helping with the presenting issue.
“The greatest need of a child is to be understood and cherished for who they are.” ~ Donald Winnicot
Play Therapy
At Acorn & Oak, the play room is the perfect place for your child to water, nurture, strengthen and grow their roots. Through play therapy, they will begin to internalize coping skills, learn resilience, and grow in confidence so they can manage the storms and frustrations of life instead of being uprooted by them. From our first meeting, we establish a weekly routine, beginning and ending the same way each week, with the bulk of our time being the 50 minutes in the play room. We end with a choice of snack to help them transition from the work of their play before heading home with you. Our intentionally structured approach provides your child peace of mind in knowing what to expect each time they come to play. Within the play room, we work hard to develop and maintain a strong and trusting relationship while also using scientifically proven methods that facilitate the development of healthy coping skills which provide fertile ground for growth and change.
Parent Support
Our training as Marriage and Family Therapists helps us understand the importance of including you in your child’s treatment. Their growth will be exponential with your involvement, and therefore, we invite you along in the process. Throughout your child’s therapy, we will meet with you on a regular basis, free of charge. This is your time, without your child present, to discuss progress, concerns, and receive helpful tools, principles, and skills to accelerate your child’s progress.
Child-Parent Relationship Training (CPRT)
Child Parent Relationship Training is a play therapy-based 10-week course, based on the premise that a secure child-parent relationship is essential in your child’s emotional, social, and behavioral health. Grounded in Child Centered Play therapy theory, attachment principles, and interpersonal biology, CPRT will teach you the skills to respond more effectively to meet your child’s needs. Focusing on one skill each week, this hands-on, practical approach is designed for you to do the work at home. In the weekly meetings we will troubleshoot challenges and celebrate successes, and build on one skill to the next, establishing strong and healthy parenting roots that will translate to stronger, deeper, healthier roots for your child.
Schedule a Free,
One Hour Consultation
Play therapy at Acorn & Oak provides a place of healing, strengthening the roots of your child for a happy and hope-filled future. Call to book your free consultation today!