Play therapy for children
For children, play is how healing begins
Play therapy might be a good fit if any of this sounds like your child
Children process their world through play long before they have the words to explain it. Play therapy uses that natural language, toys, art, stories, and imagination, so a child can express and work through what is hard in a way that feels safe and familiar. As a parent, you may notice the signs before your child can name them.
Big feelings come out as meltdowns, anger, or tears that feel bigger than the moment.
Your child seems anxious, worried, or fearful in ways that get in the way of daily life.
A change at home, a move, a divorce, a new sibling, a loss, has shaken them.
They have pulled back from play, friends, or things they used to enjoy.
Sleep, eating, or routines have shifted and you are not sure why.
Something happened that you can tell is sitting with them, and talking about it has not worked.
You know your child best, and trusting that something needs care is exactly the right instinct. Play therapy gives your child a way to be understood that does not depend on having the right words.
How play therapy can help
Play therapy is not just playtime. It is a recognized, evidence-supported approach where a trained therapist uses play to help a child express feelings, process difficult experiences, and build new ways of coping. Through the symbols and stories of play, children can work through things that would be impossible to explain directly, and they can do it at their own pace, in a space that feels safe. Seeking this kind of support early is one of the most caring things a family can do.
Our child therapists are trained in play-based work and adapt it to your child’s age and temperament. They also draw on related approaches when it helps, including child-friendly CBT to work with worries and big feelings, somatic and body-based methods to help kids settle their nervous systems, mindfulness practices made playful and concrete, and EMDR adapted for children when something distressing needs gentle processing. Throughout, we bring you in as a partner, because you are central to your child’s growth.
What therapy can help your child do
Express and make sense of feelings they cannot yet put into words.
Build skills to calm big emotions and recover from hard moments.
Work through a difficult experience in a way that feels safe.
Feel more secure through changes and transitions.
Strengthen their confidence and their connection with you.
What to expect from our therapists
Children need to feel safe before they can open up, so fit matters enormously. Our team brings a range of backgrounds, lived experiences, and specialties in working with kids, so you can find someone your child connects with and someone you trust as a parent.
When you work with us, you can expect:
Therapists trained in play-based work, along with child-friendly CBT, somatic therapy, mindfulness, and EMDR adapted for children.
A safe, welcoming space where your child can be exactly who they are.
Parents included as partners, with guidance and updates that respect your child’s trust.
Affirming, family-friendly care for all identities, races, body sizes, abilities, and family shapes.
In-person sessions in San Jose, Santa Clara, Fremont, Oakland, and Morgan Hill.
Telehealth throughout California, plus a free 15-minute consultation to see if it feels right.
We work with children, teens, and families across the Bay Area and online, and we are honored when a family trusts us with their child.
What our clients say
“I worried play therapy was just playing. It is so much more than that. Our son found a way to process the move that we could not have talked him through.”
Play therapy in person near you and online
In-person and online sessions are both real ways to support your child, not lesser versions of each other. Some children settle best in a play-equipped office, others do well from the comfort of home. We help you figure out what fits.
Telehealth · California
Online therapy works for adults anywhere in California. For many people, starting from home lowers the barrier. There is no commute after a long day, no waiting room, just a private hour that fits into the life you are already living.
Common questions about play therapy
What is play therapy, and is it just playing?
Play therapy is a recognized approach where a trained therapist uses play as the way a child communicates and heals. It looks like playing, because that is how children naturally express themselves, but the therapist is working with purpose underneath it, helping your child process feelings and build coping skills. Many families in San Jose and Santa Clara are surprised by how much real work happens through play.
What ages is play therapy for?
It is especially well suited to younger children, roughly ages three to eleven, who do not yet process best through talking. For older kids and teens, therapists shift toward more conversation-based approaches, often blending in creative and play-based elements where helpful. We match the approach to your child.
Will I be included, or is it just my child and the therapist?
You are a partner in the work. Depending on your child’s age and what they are working on, the therapist will check in with you, share guidance for home, and help you support your child between sessions, while still protecting the trust your child builds in the room.
What can play therapy help with?
It helps with anxiety, big emotions, behavioral changes, grief, family transitions like divorce or a new sibling, and processing difficult or frightening experiences. If something is weighing on your child, play therapy can give them a safe way to work through it.
Do you accept insurance?
We accept several insurance plans and can walk you through coverage and options during your free consultation, so the cost is clear before you start.
Can my child do play therapy online?
Many children do well with telehealth, which we offer throughout California. Therapists adapt play-based methods for video, and for some kids, being at home helps them feel safe enough to engage. We will help you decide whether in person or online is the better starting point.
Your child can feel better, and so can you
When your child is struggling, it can be hard to picture things feeling lighter for either of you. You do not have to take that on faith. Play therapy gives your child a gentle, natural way to work through what is hard, and the first step is just a conversation about what they need.
We’re here when you’re ready.