Individual Therapy for Children
Child-Centered Play Therapy

  “Enter into children’s play, and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet.”
– Virginia Axline

Toys and Trust

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is an evidence-based intervention that provides children with the tools necessary to express their deepest thoughts and feelings.

While you and I, as adults, have the verbal language to self-express in many ways, children have not yet developed this language. Children, therefore, use play to communicate their inner worlds.

By giving children all the essentials necessary for self-expression, we provide the opportunity for positive growth and healing.

So, what are these essentials?

Toys – If play is a child’s language, then toys are their words. In CCPT, we intentionally design a play space to provide your child with a wide variety of avenues (toys) for their self-expression.

You’re thinking, Ok, can’t I just plop my kid into a room full of toys then? Well, yes, you certainly could – but I have a feeling that the results would disappoint you because there’s a second and essential part of CCPT.

Trust – Trust is so crucial when creating an environment to encourage deep self-expression. Even as adults, though we may have the language to communicate our deepest darkest feelings, it doesn’t mean we will tell anyone who asks us.

A significant amount of trust is required to process our deepest parts – and the same goes for children. My skill set allows me to attune to your child’s needs throughout our sessions. This understanding allows me to create a trusting relationship that encourages self-expression.

“Birds fly, fish swim, and children play.”
– Garry L. Landreth

CCPT is in the child’s natural language.

    You can’t take the play out of a child – because play is their most natural form of expression. So      why not let children use play to express the hard stuff?

    If we want children to communicate their deepest, most challenging emotions, we need to let          them do it in their language – Play!

Evidence supports the use of CCPT.

    The modality of child therapy is an evidenced-based intervention supported by approximately          80 years of research that supports its effectiveness.

    Many therapists out there have incorporated play therapy into their practice by adding toys to        their offices and using them to do more effective talk therapy with children.

    These therapists took a therapy model designed for adults (talk therapy) and modified it for              their work with children.

    Child-Centered Play Therapy is specifically designed and only for children. It has been shown            time and again to be the most effective therapy available for your child.

Non-Directive play is an essential and unique feature.

Because I don’t know your child’s specific needs to process in therapy, I don’t direct or guide sessions with goals or outlines.

This is important.

I facilitate your child’s unique self-expression by creating an environment in which they have the freedom to work through whatever they need to through play in each of our sessions.

Creating a safe space for children means setting boundaries to ensure physical and emotional safety. Setting boundaries around safety and keeping toys in functioning order is an important part of the play therapy experience.

Children are free to express however they need to throughout the session – creating the opportunity to express their full range of emotions as needed.

Effective CCPT is relationship-based.

A trusting relationship is the primary healing factor for children who are experiencing emotional and behavioral challenges.

CCPT recognizes that relationship is an essential part of providing a sacred space for children to work through their most challenging thoughts and feelings.

For this reason, parents do not join in their child’s session in CCPT as their presence would distract from the essential building of the therapist-client relationship.

CCPT goes much deeper than behavior.

In CCPT, the perception of the child is the primary focus.

Yes, you are likely seeking counseling out of a concern from challenging behaviors or a particular diagnosis. That said, my work aims to build a meaningful relationship with my client to approach the presenting problem behavior together.

Every behavior speaks to a more profound need. So, by only addressing the behavior, we miss a crucial step in healing by ignoring the more profound need.

In CCPT, we will all work together to address the deeper needs of your child, leading to lasting change, healing, and skills that will serve them for the rest of their life.

Let’s get to the bottom of what your child needs.

By applying these skills and techniques to your family’s unique needs, we’ll begin a process of healing that will benefit the whole family.

Imagine being able to understand and communicate with your child on the deepest level of their emotional needs.

Your child, in turn, will be able to clearly articulate their feelings and cultivate the habit of expressing their unique creativity. These are practices that will serve them throughout their life in every arena.

Don’t wait. Give your family the support that it deserves.

Call (208) 315-9321 today for your free 20-minute consultation.