Frequently Asked Questions

Through play therapy, children learn improved ways of coping with emotions, expressing themselves, and behaving. Emotional regulation skills are learned, self-esteem and social skills are improved, and anxiety and negative thoughts are reduced. Play therapy also helps children build problem-solving skills, develop communication skills, and increase creativity. Play therapy provides a safe space for children to explore their feelings and experiences.

Every child begins with an initial session that includes a parent or caregiver. This appointment gives us the opportunity to learn about your child's history, current concerns, strengths, and goals for therapy, while also giving your family a chance to become familiar with the play therapy space. For most children, sessions are recommended every two weeks to build trust, establish a strong therapeutic relationship, and maintain momentum. Consistent attendance is one of the most important factors in helping children make meaningful and lasting progress.

Play therapy gives children a safe and supportive way to express thoughts and feelings that may be difficult to put into words. Through play, children develop a better understanding of their emotions, strengthen emotional regulation skills, build confidence, improve relationships, and learn healthy ways to cope with challenges. Whether a child is experiencing anxiety, behavioural concerns, grief, life transitions, or emotional struggles, play therapy helps foster meaningful growth that extends beyond the therapy room and into everyday life.

Although play therapy may look like ordinary play, every activity is intentionally selected to support your child's emotional and developmental needs. Play is a child's natural language, and a trained play therapist uses toys, games, creative activities, and storytelling as therapeutic tools to help children process experiences, develop coping skills, strengthen communication, and work toward specific treatment goals in a way that feels safe and engaging.

Each play therapy session is thoughtfully tailored to your child's unique needs, personality, and therapeutic goals. Depending on what will best support your child, sessions may include imaginative play, art, games, emotional skill-building activities, coping strategies, problem-solving exercises, or guided conversation for older children. While every session has a therapeutic purpose, the pace remains flexible so children feel comfortable exploring and growing in a way that is meaningful to them.

Yes. Parents and caregivers play an important role in supporting their child's progress throughout the therapy journey. While sessions provide children with a safe space to build trust and work independently with the therapist, parents receive ongoing guidance, practical strategies, and recommendations to reinforce progress at home. Following each session, parents are provided with a summary report outlining the themes explored, observations, and suggested ways to continue supporting their child's emotional growth between appointments.

Yes. Therapy is confidential, and creating a safe, trusting environment is an essential part of the therapeutic process. There are legal and ethical limits to confidentiality when there are concerns about the safety of your child or someone else. For children, information is shared with parents thoughtfully and appropriately, balancing a child's need for privacy with the importance of keeping parents informed and involved in their child's care.

This approach recognizes that behaviours are often a child's way of communicating unmet needs or difficult emotions. Rather than focusing only on changing behaviours, play therapy seeks to understand the underlying causes while helping children develop healthy emotional skills and practical coping strategies. Every child is unique, so therapy is personalized to their individual strengths, experiences, and goals, creating a supportive environment where lasting growth and resilience can develop.