Play Therapy
Play is how kids make sense of their world. When children are upset, stressed, or struggling with big feelings, they may not know how to express those emotions with words. But give them a toy, a paintbrush, a sandbox, or even a puppet—and suddenly, they can show you everything that’s going on inside.
Play therapy isn’t just fun and games—it’s a scientifically backed way for kids to process what’s happening in their lives. When children engage in play, they tap into parts of their brain that help them process emotions, make connections, and build coping skills. Brain research tells us that when kids play, especially in a therapeutic setting, their brains are actively engaged in regulating emotions, understanding social situations, and improving executive functions like problem-solving.
In my play therapy sessions, I create a safe space where children can feel in control, express their emotions freely, and find new ways to understand themselves and the world around them. Whether they’re using dolls to role-play a stressful situation, building a structure to represent their feelings, or using art to create a world of their own, they’re working through things that words just can’t express yet.
Kids Can’t Tell You,
“I Had a Hard Day”
Wouldn’t parenting be so much easier if your kid just walked up and said, “I had a bad day”?
But no—instead, you’re playing octopus, juggling the burning dinner on the stove, your partner venting about their hard day, and your seven-year-old having a full-blown meltdown because his sister looked at him “wrong.” You can’t take it anymore, and you snap—yelling for everyone to just shut up.
We’ve all been there. Pushed past your breaking point, now just as dysregulated as your kid. And in the aftermath? Guilt. You’re sure you just traumatized your child and can practically feel the smug parenting influencers judging you from across the internet. So, you retreat—hiding in shame, serving cereal for dinner for the fifth time this week, wondering… does it ever get easier?
And wait, you think—why are we talking about me? Isn’t my kid the one who needs therapy?
Here’s the thing: kids don’t exist in a vacuum. Their emotions, struggles, and behaviors are deeply connected to the world around them—including you. When a child is struggling, it’s not because they’re broken—it’s because something in the family system needs support. That’s where I come in. Through play therapy and family-based strategies, I help both kids and parents break out of survival mode and find a new, more connected way forward. Play therapy can help kids and families to:
Express Big Feelings Without Big Meltdowns
(Because “use your words” doesn’t always cut it when they’re overwhelmed)
Process Tough Stuff in a Way That Makes Sense to Them
(Kids don’t do sit-down heart-to-hearts like adults. Play is their language)Build Confidence and Emotional Resilience
(Less “I can’t do it!” and more “I’ve got this!)Strengthen Social Skills Without Forced and Awkward Playdates
(Learning to take turns and handle conflict without a referee)Manage Anxiety Without It Managing Them
(Helping kids face worries without avoidance or shutdowns)Turn Chaos into Connection
(Because childhood should be messy and magical, not just exhausting)
Heal from Trauma in a Safe, Gentle Way
(No pressure, no “fixing,” just a space where they can process at their own pace)
Improve Family Connection, Without Power Struggles
(Because it shouldn’t always feel like a battle just to get out the door)Support Neurodivergent Kids in a Way That Works for Them
(No “masking” required. Just tools that actually fit their brain)Encourage Healthy Boundaries and Emotional Regulation
(So they learn when to stand their ground and how to self-soothe)
You aren’t broken. You deserve therapy that actually understands how your brain works.
Let’s make that happen.
Amy Johnson, LMFTA #MG61606691
amy@jamhandsfamilytherapy.com
"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning"
— Fred Rogers