You know that your child is needing counseling services, but you are not sure what type of therapy would be most helpful.
Maybe you have heard of play therapy, but do not quite understand how it works.
Are you searching for a child therapist in the Houston, TX area?
Would you like to understand what exactly play therapy is and why it is the preferred counseling method for children?
If this sounds like you, then you are at the right place! It is common for parents to feel lost when searching for the right therapist, especially in Houston where the choices are overwhelming. You are wanting to make sure you find someone both you and your child can trust, but it is hard to know where to start. At Brittani Persha Counseling we are proud to be a group of therapists that all have experience and training in play therapy. We are passionate about working with children and families and strongly believe in the benefits of Play Therapy.
So what is Play Therapy?
At BPC, we believe in the Power of Play. Play therapy is the least intrusive and most natural form of therapy for children. Since children usually express themselves in non-verbal ways, we use our play therapy training as a medium for finding clues to what is happening in your child’s inner world. Also through play, your child is able to full express past events. Many times, behavioral issues arise because a child did not get to fully process an experience from an earlier age. This causes them to feel stuck and makes adapting to a changing environment more difficult.
Through play therapy, we help your child process these issues by utilizing play as the child’s language. We do this because children are often not able to use direct language and instead utilize metaphors in play to express themselves. Often, a large part of the healing occurs in the play therapy environment where a child can safely reenact issues and form new responses. The good news is, as your child overcomes their obstacles their symptoms will decrease. This will bring greater harmony and understanding to your family as a whole.
How does play therapy work? Why use play therapy with young children?
Does Play Therapy Help My Child Learn New Coping Skills?
As mentioned above, children encounter their world at an experiential rather than cognitive level. This is because the frontal lobe of the child’s brain – which is the rational part – is not fully developed yet. Because of this, children use symbols and metaphors when expressing themselves. In play therapy, it is our job to experience what it is like to live in your child’s world. Then I can reflect with words what feelings their play is expressing. This modeling can teach your child to learn that feelings have names. He or she can begin to learn that naming their experience helps others better understand and help. In other words, it is my job during play therapy, to be your child’s frontal lobe.
Whether your young child has anxiety, is acting out, just seems upset or has any other social/emotional/behavioral concerns; play therapy can help. As child behavior specialists, we understand that children have complicated emotions just like adults. We also understand that the best way to teach them these new coping skills is through their first language: play.
Over time and with practice, he or she chan strengthen their own ability to tap into the full brain. This helps your child act in more rational and effective ways. And kids LOVE coming to Play Therapy!
I need counselor for my preschooler…Do you offer counseling to kids that young?
Even young kids need help sometimes. Play therapy offers the perfect avenue for helping young children express and cope with their emotions. We see kids as young as two years old who live in the Houston, TX area. As mental health professionals, we know that even toddlers, preschoolers and parents of very young children needs help sometimes. Our skilled child therapists will work closely with you as the parents. The play therapy office is a fun, safe atmosphere for your young child to explore their emotions as well. If you’re looking for a counselor who specializes in helping young children, Brittani Persha Counseling is the child counseling for your family!
Begin Play Therapy & Help Your Child be Successful
Interesting in learning more about our Child Counseling Services? Visit our Child Therapy Page for detailed information about our process and what to expect.
If you are interested learning more about play therapy and our child counseling services Schedule a Free 20 Minute Phone Consultation. You will have the opportunity to speak directly with one of our trained therapist. We encourage you to ask the Brittani Persha Counseling staff any questions you may have. Our goal as a Houston, TX play therapy clinic is to find out if BPC is the right fit for your family.
So you have decided to begin play therapy at Brittani Persha Counseling, how do you prepare your child for their 1st session?
Below is a wonderful and simple way to prepare your child for their first play therapy session. Some fellow play therapists designed this free download and we think it is a great way to help guide parents and children as the begin their play therapy journey.
Download your free copy Play Therapy 1st Session PDF.