What is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy is a developmentally appropriate therapy approach that uses play, creativity, and the therapeutic relationship to help children express feelings, process experiences, build coping skills, and strengthen emotional regulation.

Who can benefit from Play Therapy?

Play Therapy may support children experiencing anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, behavioural concerns, grief, trauma, family changes, social challenges, school stress, or difficulty expressing their thoughts and feelings verbally.

What ages is Play Therapy for?

Play Therapy is most often used with children, though the specific age range depends on the child’s developmental stage, needs, and therapy goals.

How is Play Therapy different from regular play?

Play Therapy is guided by a trained clinician who uses play intentionally within a therapeutic relationship. The therapist observes themes, supports emotional expression, helps build skills, and works toward specific therapy goals.

Are parents involved in Play Therapy?

Yes. Parent involvement is often an important part of Play Therapy. Parents may participate through intake, parent consultation, progress updates, skill-building, or family sessions depending on the child’s needs and goals.

Can Play Therapy help with anxiety and emotional regulation?

Yes. Play Therapy can help children understand feelings, express worries, develop coping strategies, practice regulation skills, and feel more supported in managing big emotions.

Where does CARE Psychology offer Play Therapy?

CARE Psychology offers Play Therapy in Airdrie, Alberta, and serves families from Airdrie, Calgary, Rocky View County, and surrounding communities.

SERVICES

Play Therapy

Getting Creative With Therapy

LET’S GET CREATIVE

Finding The Words Can Be Challenging

While the outcome and transformation of therapy is highly desirable, getting there can often be a challenge. It can be difficult to fully express thoughts, feelings, and experiences all through words. This is why we integrate play and expressive arts, which encourages healing and exploration of your perspective, feelings, and emotions through play, art, sand, movement, and drama.

LET IT BE FUN

Play Therapy

Remember playing as a child? Play is our first language. Just as you use words to communicate, children use play to connect and express themselves, which can be an essential tool to use in therapy. Play Therapy allows children, youth, and truly anyone, to communicate the thoughts and feelings they have that might otherwise remain hidden in traditional talk therapy. And, it can feel creative, or even fun - A fantastic approach for something that can feel hard, at any age.

Play Therapy is a therapeutic approach based on developmental principles and can be a powerful tool for treating cognitive, behavioural, social, and emotional challenges. Play can help your child or youth express their concerns, process their experiences, work through particular problems, and develop more effective strategies to manage their world.

Dr. Crystal Dittrick at CARE Psychology is one of the only registered and certified play therapist supervisors in Airdrie, Alberta holding both Canadian and international designations. Dr. Cristina Fernandez Conde, Dr. Shawna Gray, Kristina Jelinkova, and Meagan Stiff are working on becoming play therapists, with the support of Dr. Crystal.

UNINHIBITED HEALING

Expressive Arts

Research suggests Play Therapy is an effective treatment approach at any age. We use the foundations of Play Therapy alongside Expressive Arts modalities (such as sandtray, art, drama, movement, and music) to help clients connect, explore, and express what may be hard to put into words. By making space for creativity and play, healing is able to unfold naturally.

A developmentally appropriate, evidence-based approach that helps children and youth express feelings, build emotional regulation, and process experiences through play, art, and creativity.
Most people can benefit from play and expressive therapy. Play Therapy is especially beneficial for children and teens who struggle to put words to what they are feeling or would benefit from a non-traditional form of therapy, and want to try another way to share what is true to them.
This varies by child. We will talk through what makes sense for your child’s age, comfort level, and goals.
Play therapy sessions are $235 for 50–60 minutes.

FAQ

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Play More, Heal Safely

To learn more about how Play & Expressive Therapy can help you or your child, book your complimentary consultation call. We will match you with the perfect therapist.

CONTACT US TO BOOK