Our approach to Play Therapy in Wesley Chapel, FL

Is your child struggling with grief and loss, divorce adjustment, anxiety, or depression? Are you at a loss for how to help your child?

Are you experiencing heartbreak because you are watching your child suffer and you do not know how to help? Are you wondering if the red flags you are seeing in your child are typical phases of child development or if it is more than the norm?

Seeing a negative mental health decline in your child can be alarming. You may be asking your pediatrician if these changes are normal for child development. You are feeling unsettled because you feel that something is off with your child and you are not sure what path to take to get your child help. As a parent, it can be painful to watch your child suffer from mental health challenges.

Our child therapists understand the intense need for support that parents have when they are walking this journey with their child. You want someone who will listen to your concerns for your child and understand them. You want someone to tell you whether there is a mental health diagnosis or these are only normal bumps in the road.

Our team is mindful of the challenges of raising a child. We have provided support and play-based interventions for many families along the way.

Mental Health Issues in Childhood that May Warrant the Need for Play Therapy Near Tampa, FL:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
• Behavioral issues caused by bullying
• Grief and loss
• Divorce and adjustment
• Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
• Crisis and trauma
• Social skills deficits/Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Conduct Disorder

Play Therapy Components at Sheltering Oaks Counseling 

Play is a medium for children to express their feelings and explore relationships. Play is our first language. As adults, we use words to communicate. As such, children use play. When playing, we express thoughts and feelings that might otherwise remain hidden. Play therapy builds therapeutic trust between the therapist and your child. It also serves as a platform for learning acceptable behaviors and ways to regulate emotions. Play therapy promotes creative problem-solving and encourages open communication.

Our therapists use evidence-supported play therapy treatments to treat your child’s problems. One example of a play-based strategy often used in play therapy is using puppet play. Puppets can be used to role-play difficult social situations. For example, peer conflict, poor conversation skills, or poor social problem-solving skills.

Many parents are hesitant to bring in children, believing they are too young for therapy. We do not recommend strictly talk therapy for young children. But, we do believe play therapy is an effective treatment method to help your child or teen. Our team serves children as young as four years old. We use play therapy with a variety of age groups including adolescents.

You do not have to continue watching your child suffer and hoping they will get better without a plan. We are here for you, with professional, caring play therapists who are prepared to support you and your child. Healing is possible, and we can help. Why not get started today?