Top 10 Myths About Play Therapy in Houston: Truths Every Parent Should Know
Play therapy is one of the most effective ways to help children work through emotions, stress, and behavior challenges. Yet in Houston, many parents hesitate to try it because of myths and misunderstandings.
If you’ve wondered whether play therapy in Houston could help your child, let’s look at the most common myths and what’s really true.
Here Are Some Myths About Play Therapy:
Myth 1: “Play therapy is just kids playing — it’s not real therapy.”
Adults are used to the idea of therapy as sitting down and talking about problems, and feel like their child should be doing that, too. It can feel like their little one plays all the time at home and shouldn’t need to go to a therapist for more playing.
Truth: In child play therapy, play is the language. A trained Houston play therapist uses play to understand what a child is feeling and to teach coping skills. It may look like just toys and games, but it’s actually a structured, evidence-based therapy.
Myth 2: “Only children with trauma need play therapy.”
Parents can feel like they should be able to manage most difficulties that their children experience and not consider play therapy as an option if something less severe is happening.
Truth: While play therapy helps children heal from trauma, it also supports kids with anxiety, school stress, ADHD, behavior issues, grief, and family transitions. In fact, any child struggling with emotions can benefit.
Myth 3: “My child is too old for play therapy.”
When children “age out” of playing, the term play therapy may seem too babyish or inappropriate for mature, articulate kids who aren’t using the toys and games they played with when they were younger.
Truth: Play therapy is effective for preschoolers, school-age children, and even tweens. Older kids may use art, sand tray, or role-play. Family play therapy engages children and parents in activities or games that can help them communicate and understand each other. The therapist tailors the session to the child’s age and needs.
Myth 4: “The therapist tells the child how to play (or how to behave/calm down/listen).”
Lots of referrals for play therapy happen because a child is having behavioral difficulties at school or home. It can feel reassuring to think of a professional who can set the child on a better behavior path.
Truth: In child-centered play therapy, the child leads. The therapist reflects and guides without taking over. Some approaches are more structured, but the goal is always to empower the child. Play therapists are trained to support the child wherever they are. Many children absolutely understand what’s expected of them, but they’re struggling with how to meet expectations. Play therapy can help them work through the difficulties that are making it hard for them.
Myth 5: “Results happen in just a few sessions OR takes too much time/costs too much.”
Seeing play therapy as a short-term process or worrying that it will take years for their children to benefit can keep parents from viewing it as a helpful addition to their family’s budget and schedule.
Truth: Some children show progress quickly, but lasting change usually takes consistency. Most children benefit from several months of regular sessions. The therapist will check progress with you along the way. Play therapists love their jobs, but want to see their clients reach their goals and graduate from treatment! Like any counseling, play therapy is an investment. Many families find the emotional growth and behavior improvements life-changing. Some Houston therapists also offer sliding scale fees.
Myth 6: “Parents aren’t involved (and shouldn’t be) in play therapy.”
Parents may feel like they’re doing all they need to once they find a Houston play therapist, and don’t have a role in the process after that. It’s common to see therapy as involving only the therapist and client.
Truth: Parent involvement is essential. Children don’t exist outside of their relationship with the adults in their lives. A Houston play therapist will meet with parents regularly, share strategies, and invite you to support your child’s growth at home. Following recommendations from your play therapist for how to make things better outside of play therapy sessions will give your child the best possible chance for getting better, and more quickly. With your consent, your child’s counselor also can coordinate with teachers, caregivers, or other important people to help everyone be on the same page with how to help your child. Play therapy is a partnership.
Myth 7: “Play therapy is only for serious cases.”
Families can feel like they really don’t need to involve a professional unless there’s been a huge life or behavior change with their child.
Truth: Children don’t have to be in crisis to benefit. Play therapy builds emotional resilience, self-esteem, and social skills — even for everyday struggles. Lots of parents can feel like they can manage things as they come up and lots of times they’re right. But when you start seeing patterns of struggles, or if your child is feeling like things are harder more often than not, play therapy might be an option to consider.
Myth 8: “If negative feelings or bad things are discussed with my child, it will make things worse.”
No one who cares about a child wants them to be unhappy. We tend to distract and avoid talking about the hard things, because we don’t want them to be upset or to dwell on the negative.
Truth: Usually the opposite is true. Just like in adult therapy, giving voice to the hard things can make them more understandable and give them less power. Kids do the same thing in play therapy, on their own terms and in ways they understand.
Myth 9: “My child is too young to understand about the divorce/loss/upheaval, so they don’t really need play therapy.”
Young children might seem oblivious to what’s going on around them, and parents don’t want to upset them or discuss something that’s difficult even for adults to process.
Truth: Children, especially really young ones, may not completely understand what’s happening, but they DEFINITELY know something is wrong. Often, they try to make sense of what’s going on and can feel very frightened about events. Play therapy can give them a safe space to make sense of what’s happening and find some resolution. Bonus: your play therapist or parent coach can help you know what to say to your little one about what’s going on.
Myth 10: “If my child’s in therapy when they’re this young, it will start a lifetime of needing mental health intervention!”
Truth: Typically, the opposite is true. Early intervention usually can help give kids a different path to follow--one that will positively affect their self-esteem and give them a firmer foundation for their future development.
Why Play Therapy in Houston Matters
If your child struggles with emotions, behavior, or life changes, don’t let myths hold you back. Play therapy in Houston gives children a safe, effective way to heal and grow.
Ready to learn more? We offer a free 15-minute phone consultation to see if play therapy could help your family; schedule yours today. We can answer your questions and help get you to the right therapist in Houston.
