Questions About Play Therapy in Houston | Houston Play Therapy FAQ
Maybe you’re a Houston parent whose child’s teacher has suggested play therapy in Houston to help with behavior or emotions. Or you might have a child who’s experienced trauma, is struggling with anxiety, or acting out at home and school. You’ve heard of child play therapy, but you’re wondering:
What is play therapy?
How does play therapy help children?
How do I find a Houston play therapist near me?
Here are answers to the most common questions parents ask about play therapy in Houston.
We Have the Answers to Houston’s Questions about Play Therapy
Play therapy is a field that’s been around for a while, but it’s one that many adults may not know much about. In the 20+ years our practice has been focusing on providing play therapy to Houston’s children (and helping their parents, too), we’ve heard A LOT of questions, and none of them were bad ones. Here are a few more common ones about therapy for children, along with answers we hope will help clear things up.
What is play therapy?
Play therapy is a form of child counseling where children can use toys, art, games, and other activities to express themselves. It’s a way of working with children in a developmentally appropriate way, based on the fact that kids play more easily than they can verbalize what’s happening for them, the way adults do when they go to therapy. Because children naturally “speak” through play, a play therapy session provides a safe way to explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences. These methods help children communicate in ways that feel natural and non-threatening.
2. How does play therapy work?
As kids play with a specially trained therapist, they get a chance to express their feelings, make sense out of things that have happened to them, and to master difficult reactions or emotions. It also can be incredibly effective and helpful to have someone there just for them when they’re going through a difficult time. Adults often think of childhood as an idyllic phase of life and don’t remember the hard parts. Kids are navigating tough stuff all the time and can use someone in their corner to listen.
In Houston play therapy sessions, children can:
Express emotions like anger, sadness, or worry
Process grief, divorce, or other life changes
Improve coping skills and emotional regulation
Build social skills and self-confidence
Learn new ways to manage behavior
While it may look like “just playing,” play therapy is an evidence-based approach that promotes healing and growth.
3. Do you tell kids how to play or what to do?
It depends on the therapist’s approach:
In child-centered play therapy, the child chooses the play activities, and they’re in charge of what they play. This is especially helpful for younger children.
In more structured therapy, the play therapist might guide with a specific game or activity to help the child in their progress, but even then, the child is able to express themselves (or not!) as they’d like to.
Either way, children always have choice and agency in their sessions. Play therapy is a place designed for kids, where they can lead and adults follow and support.
4. It sounds like nothing “real” is happening in a play therapy session. Why should I bring my child to them?
Appearances can be deceiving, especially to logical, adult eyes.
But what kids get out of their counseling sessions can be powerful. In play therapy, children can:
develop recognition of their feelings,
increase their ability to express themselves, and
understand their experiences better through their play.
All of these things can translate to kids who can regulate their emotions and behaviors more easily outside of play therapy sessions.
The Association for Play Therapy says:
“research suggests that play therapy is an effective mental health approach, regardless of age, gender, or the nature of the problem, and works best, when a parent, family member, or caretaker is actively involved in the treatment process.”
We agree—we see it all the time at our Houston play therapy office.
5. Speaking of having a parent involved--how do I know what’s happening with my child’s treatment if I’m not in the play therapy room with them?
Most child counselors want to give children their privacy but know that it’s vital that their adult caregivers be in the loop. Because at our practice we don’t like to talk about kids in front of them, we don’t do the “waiting room discussion.” Instead, we maintain open channels of communication with parents during regularly scheduled appointments (and by email or phone call if you need to touch base). Those give us a chance to have you fill us in on what’s happening outside the play room and we can give you updates and ideas for maximizing your child’s progress outside of play therapy sessions.
Parent involvement is essential. In our Houston practice:
We provide parent consultation sessions to update you
We offer feedback and home strategies
We keep open communication through scheduled check-ins
If you’d like, you can book extra sessions for targeted coaching or take our workshop or classes
You’re part of the process, but sessions remain a safe, private space for your child.
6. How long does it take for things to get better?
Play therapy is a process. Here’s how it might go for your family:
It takes a few sessions for children to get to know and trust their play therapists and then several more for them to work on what’s hard for them.
We stay in touch with parents and monitor how things are going outside of play therapy sessions.
We expect for kids to improve and when they do, we introduce the idea of ending sessions to parents before we talk to kids about it.
If we’re all on the same page, we talk to kids about it and give them an idea of when we’ll be stopping (usually in two to three more sessions).
It’s a truth that sometimes things get worse before they get better--hang in there, it doesn’t mean it’s not working--sometimes just the opposite is true!
Each child’s pace is unique, and consistency is key.
7. What should I tell my child about coming to play therapy?
First, good for you for wanting to keep your child in the loop about what’s happening for them!
Second, you can tell them that you know that (fill in the blank) has been hard for them lately, and you’ve found a grownup called a play therapist to help. You can let them know a play therapist’s whole job is to help kids who have worries or concerns.
Your child counselor can let you know the structure of the intake so you can describe it to your child before you come.
At our Houston office, kids get to play with their therapist during the intake--no tests, not a lot of questions, just come and be themselves. (Parents meet with the child counselors privately, so we’re not talking about kids in front of them.)
8. How do I find a play therapist in Houston?
Lots of professionals can refer you to a qualified child counselor in Houston, including pediatricians, school professionals and other psychotherapists. Friends and neighbors might have good ideas, and online resources like Psychology Today and the Association for Play Therapy offer find a therapist features on their websites. You can read more about it on our website here.
Want to Know More About Houston Play Therapists?
We hope you’ve gotten some ideas that make sense in your search for a play therapist in Houston. If you want more information, call us at (713) 936-0633 or book your free 15-minute phone consultation. We love helping kids and parents find what they need, and if we’re not the right fit for your child’s play therapy, we can give you suggestions for someone who might be.
