⚲ LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA
Play Therapy
Healing and growth through play: a journey beyond talk
About Play-Based Therapy
The innate drive to play is a fundamental part of who we are, supporting growth and well-being across all stages of life.
All mammalian babies and young animals play, as it is crucial for their healthy development.
For humans, play and creative expression are even more vital. They are not only essential for child development but also necessary for the healthy functioning of the adult brain.
Play-based therapy taps into this natural activity, using play as a tool for expression, exploration, learning, and healing in both children and adults.
For humans, play and creative expression are even more vital. They are not only essential for child development but also necessary for the healthy functioning of the adult brain.
Play-based therapy taps into this natural activity, using play as a tool for expression, exploration, learning, and healing in both children and adults.
Some of the benefits for children
Play helps children become more resilient in facing challenges, practice empathy and compassion, safely manage strong emotions, develop better impulse control and planning skills, and develop healthy self-esteem and confidence.
Play is children’s language. It provides a safe way to relax and communicate their feelings without fear of judgment.
Through play, children explore the world, connect with adults and peers, express their emotions, and learn new skills.
Offers real-time feedback from multiple people, broadening self-awareness
Some of the benefits for adults
Play offers experiential opportunities to explore difficult topics and inner conflicts, sometimes without the need for verbal discussion.
The symbolic world of play unlocks creativity, supports emotional release, stress relief, and self-awareness, and fosters a flow state where actions are not overthought.
When we are constantly serious and preoccupied with responsibilities, emotional burnout may be imminent. Play is a great way to reduce stress and create life balance.
Play allows us to safely take risks, try new behaviors, and go beyond our automatic limiting roles.
Restoring one’s connection with playfulness and creativity can be a significant step toward wholeness and happiness, both individually and within family dynamics.
We help with
Play Therapy is one of the oldest modalities of helping children with emotional and behavioral difficulties. We can assist your child with challenges such as
Anxiety and anger
Disruptive behaviors and tantrums
Communication and social skills
Grief and loss
Life changes (e.g., parents' divorce, the birth of a sibling)
Social-emotional development
Trauma and PTSD
How we work
We are therapists who deeply believe in the power and importance of play in human life, and we enjoy incorporating play into our therapy sessions.
Our therapy rooms are equipped with a wide variety of play and creative expression materials.
To provide you with the benefits of play activities, we may offer the following during therapy sessions:
To provide you with the benefits of play activities, we may offer the following during therapy sessions:
Sandplay
Pretend play
Non-directive play
Drama role play
Family therapeutic playtime
Creative expression activities
Child-parent play interactions
Therapeutic board games
Group therapeutic play activities
Therapeutic arts and crafts
Puppet-making and plays
Doll-making
Meet our team
Our therapists utilize play-based methods in therapy with children, teens, families, and groups
LMFT
Registered Sandplay Practitioner
Member of STA (Sandplay Therapists of America)
Member of PTA (Play Therapy Association)
Registered Sandplay Practitioner
Member of STA (Sandplay Therapists of America)
Member of PTA (Play Therapy Association)
AMFT, APCC
Member of PTA (Play Therapy Association)
Member of PTA (Play Therapy Association)
MA, AMFT
FAQ
Play Therapy
Many parents seek CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) for their children due to its benefits. However, it’s important to note that effective CBT for kids usually incorporates play and creative expression. Through play, children can learn and practice CBT skills such as recognizing and regulating their emotions in a way that resonates with their developmental stage.
Play-based therapy is similar to but distinct from “just playing for fun.” Playing for fun is an important self-regulatory activity and can be part of therapy as well. However, in the therapy room, play materials and activities are not random; they are intentionally chosen to help clients express themselves, address challenges, and develop coping skills. Therapy is structured in a specific way, and a trained therapist uses play as a therapeutic tool to facilitate clients’ growth.
That is entirely your choice, just like the topics you bring to therapy. Play-based activities are optional and never required for the therapeutic process to unfold. Some clients prefer to talk only, and that's perfectly fine. Similarly, some younger clients prefer to play only, and this is also perfectly fine for therapy to be beneficial.
Many parents seek CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) for their children due to its benefits. However, it’s important to note that effective CBT for kids usually incorporates play and creative expression. Through play, children can learn and practice CBT skills such as recognizing and regulating their emotions in a way that resonates with their developmental stage.
Play-based therapy is similar to but distinct from “just playing for fun.” Playing for fun is an important self-regulatory activity and can be part of therapy as well. However, in the therapy room, play materials and activities are not random; they are intentionally chosen to help clients express themselves, address challenges, and develop coping skills. Therapy is structured in a specific way, and a trained therapist uses play as a therapeutic tool to facilitate clients’ growth.
That is entirely your choice, just like the topics you bring to therapy. Play-based activities are optional and never required for the therapeutic process to unfold. Some clients prefer to talk only, and that's perfectly fine. Similarly, some younger clients prefer to play only, and this is also perfectly fine for therapy to be beneficial.
Contacts
Our psychotherapy and counseling practice is conveniently located on the border of Los Altos and Mountain View in the San Francisco Bay Area, very close to Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, Cupertino and San Jose.
MA, AMFT
MA, LMFT
MA, AMFT, APCC
In case of emergency, please don't submit this form.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
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