Frequently asked questions about child therapy in Littleton, CO

You have been looking for a therapist for your child/family and have noticed that the most therapists who work with children reference play therapy as the most developmentally appropriate modality of intervention for children age 2-12. In addition to all the questions you have about getting your child started in therapy, now you have a ton of questions about play therapy- exhale- that is completely normal.

Is Play Therapy the right fit for my child or family?

Once again your child has had a meltdown of epic proportions. Just when you think you are on the right track to help them figure out what they are feeling and why even the smallest stressor tips them over the edge, it happens again! Just as there are hundreds of reasons that you’re child could be having more difficulty that some in handling life’s ups/downs, there are a lot of different modalities that mental health professionals are trained in to help children and families overcome difficulties, develop social/emotional skills, and increase regulation. Figuring out what type of help your child needs can be overwhelming. Here are a few common questions I answer when parents are first reaching out to me for support or during the first few weeks of therapy.

Is play therapy just for young children?

Play therapy is an effective modality for children and teens (and some adults). Play is how we as humans learn, explore, and manipulate experiences. Through play there is a natural curiosity and engagement that is less threatening and more developmentally appropriate than talk therapy for children and teens. Their brains are still developing and the part of the brain that helps humans with “talking through” problems, using insight, empathy, and abstract thought is the last to develop (well into our mid 20’s).

If my child is playing are you going to be teaching them skills for coping with their emotions or changing their behaviors?

Play therapists are trained to engage in play with the child as a way to explore areas of challenge and growth. It is in the play that the therapist can do things like: name emotions, regulate the intensity of a situation, model problem solving and engage the child in trying on new ways of thinking and behaving when under stress. It has been my experience that when children are allowed to play as a way to explore these stressors and I can model the naming of emotion and regulation of the intensity it is much more effective than if I try to engage in “teaching” a skill directly to the child.

Will my child “act out” or “play” what happened to them or a specific situation/challenge.

Very rarely is the play that the child engages in a direct reenactment of a specific situation or challenge. What children do most often in their play is use the toys, art, games, sand, or other materials in the play room to explore the emotions, relationships, and environments that are difficult for them giving the therapist a felt sense or experience of what it is like to be the child. The therapist can use different parts of the play to explore emotions, relationships or situations as well as model options for how to respond to the stressors that are present in the play itself.

Will I (the parent) be part of the play therapy?

Most children actual do amazing work in the play room with just the therapist there because they need a space to feel safe to explore challenges without a bunch of expectations from adults. IF your child invites you into the play room with them then yes you will be part of the play therapy. Sometimes this invitation is a few moments to show you something they have been working on, other times you may be invited in to play with us. IF you are invited in then you become an active participant in the play (not an observer on the couch or in the corner).

Will you tell me what my child played with?

If your child is being seen individually and doing the session with only the therapist in the room, the therapist will have regular communication with you about the progress towards the identified goals. The play room, the content of the play (ie: what toys were used, how, what your child did or did not talk about) is a protected space. It is important for your child to know that what they play with and how they work with their therapist is sacred and private. There are many ways for me to communicate with you the progress your child is making towards goals without sharing specifically what and how they played.

When will we know that my child is ready to be done in play therapy?

We will set agreed upon goals at the beginning of therapy to help us track progress and monitor where your child is at in the play therapy process. One of my favorite things about play therapy is that there is an easy way to track a child’s progress using those identified goals as well as several other markers that we will agree upon to decide when we begin the process of saying goodbye/termination.

What if what I want my child to work on is their relationships with others in the family?

In these situations it might make the most sense to talk about family play therapy. This might mean that every session is a session with the entire family or how to integrate family sessions into the plan for services.

Reach out if you have other questions about child therapy, play therapy, family therapy or parent support in Littleton, CO.

I hope this answered some of your questions about play therapy for children and families. If you are still feeling stuck, schedule your FREE 20 minute video consultation.

Maximizing your 20 Minute Video Consultation with a Child Therapist

You have spent time searching online for a child therapist in Littleton, CO and have a few that you think might be a good fit for your child and family. Most child therapists offer a brief (15-20 minute) complimentary consultation via phone or video. These consultations do not obligate you to working with that provider. It is your opportunity to share and obtain essential information you will need to make an informed decision about selecting a child therapist.

Questions to ask a child therapist in Littleton, CO during a consultation

Only you know your schedule, budget, and time frame for therapy. Before you begin to share the challenges you and your child have been facing, obtain the following information from a potential child therapist:

• Are you accepting new clients?

  You can often find this information on the providers website or a directory listing (psychology today, therapyden etc). IF you are unsure if the provider you are reaching out is accepting new clients ask this first! Many child therapists have limited capacity to take on new clients and may have a wait list. Only you know if you can hold on a little bit longer to get started or if you will need a referral to a provider who may have immediate availability for new clients.

• Do you have availability for appointments on (day) and (time)?

  Families are busy and you need to be upfront about your availability so that the therapist can determine if your availability and theirs line up. Here is where you might consider being little flexible! IF your child is younger (not in school yet) and you have some flexibility in your schedule, it is helpful to consider scheduling sessions during the day. As a child therapist who supports primarily school aged kids, I get it, you want an after school appointment! The reality is every child therapist in Littleton CO has a limited number of sessions available between the hours of 3:00pm-6:00pm. Families often do not want to schedule appointments during school hours however if your child is really having a difficult time and after talking with a prospective therapist the fit feels right- you might have to take a day and time that is less than ideal to start. You also have to take into consideration which days you do not have other after school activities (sports, music lessons, drama class, or other activities) planned. IF you are a family that simply has no wiggle room in day or time then you need to let the therapist know that early in this conversation, no need using up time or trying to bend yourself into a pretzel if the availability simply does not work.

• Do you accept insurance, are you an out of network provider, or private pay only?

  If you are going to use your insurance to cover some of the cost of therapy then you need to find a therapist that accepts your insurance. You might be able to pay for therapy out of pocket and then you can submit to your insurance company to be reimbursed if you are eligible for out of network benefits. Again get this out of the way upfront.

• What is your fee for counseling or play therapy?

  I get it (hardly) anyone likes to talk about money but imagine getting to the end of the conversation knowing this is the therapist you want to work with and have your child work with only to realize the fee is more than you can afford. A follow up question to this fee question is to get clear about frequency (how often) and duration (how long) will my child be in therapy to get an idea of your total investment. Typically, sessions are scheduled weekly. Plan for 16-20 sessions up front.

• Do you offer in person or telehealth sessions?

  Many child therapists now offer both in person and telehealth sessions. Telehealth can be an effective option for child sessions, and parent sessions.

I need a child therapist that will be helpful to my child and family!

PHEW- all the logistical stuff is now out in the open and you can ask questions that get to the heart of why you picked up the phone in the first place! Your follow up questions are likely to be very specific to your child, what you/they have been struggling with, and your family situation. Here are a few you might consider.

• How do you involve parents in the therapy process? You may have more specific questions about this depending on your family situation (married, separated, divorced, custody, decision making all factor in here)

• What do I tell my kid about going to therapy?

• How often do we have an appointment?

• What are the next steps?

As you ask these questions I encourage you to trust your instinct. Do you feel settled and calm as the therapist answers your questions (feeling a little anxious about this process is normal so keep that in mind). If you are ready to move forward with an intake let the therapist know that. Intake appointments are one step closer to establishing a therapeutic relationship and alliance. During that intake appointment you will have time to explain more about what has led up to you reaching out for help, share developmental history for your child, family history, and ask any additional questions. Intake is also when the therapist is likely to share more about the therapy process and together you begin to identify some of the goals, interventions and outcomes.

Now you are ready to make that phone call to a potential family or child therapist!

I hope this helps you find the right family or child therapist in Littleton, CO. If you are still feeling stuck, schedule a free 20 minute consultation with a child therapist who would be happy to hear about what is happening and help direct you to the right person. If you are looking for help with understanding your child’s behaviors and create more ease in your family life, you can read more about how I can help here.

Finding a child therapist in Littleton, CO

Littleton is a fun, family friendly suburb nestled south of Denver and has lots of great open spaces, parks, and places to explore. A high scoring school system and active recreational district draws many young professionals to the area to raise their children.

However just because you have access to plenty of family friendly activities and a growing community of other families with children doesn’t mean that family life is always easy! Sometimes you do not want to be in a place where everybody knows your name when your child is having an epic meltdown or moment of flat out disobedience! If you have found yourself in one of those moments when the small community feels too small but finding a mental health professional to help feels too difficult, I would like to help you navigate our small community to find the right person to help you make BIG change for your child and your family.

Which mental health professional is the right type of child therapist for my child in Littleton, CO?

Finding the right mental health professional to help you navigate the day to day challenges of raising children can be a bit overwhelming. Often it is hard to know if your child’s behaviors are typical and just part of growing up or if there is something else going on for your child that effects their mood, relationships, and learning. There are so many different types of professionals to choose from! Finding the right fit for your child and your family depends on the type of challenges you are facing and the outcomes you want to achieve. Here is a brief description of some of the common mental health professionals you might find in your search:

Counselor (LPCC, LPC): Typically this is an individual who has a masters in counseling and they work with individuals, groups, or families. Counselors help people cope with their problems, and develop skills to address challenges. Counselors are trained in a variety of therapy modalities as well as to assess for mental health disorders. Many counselors who work specifically with children obtain additional training and pursue becoming registered play therapists. Counselors do not provide diagnostic testing or medication evaluation/monitoring. For these specific needs counselors refer to Psychologists, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP), or Psychiatrists .

Therapist (LCSW, PsyD, LMFT, PMHNP, MD): Therapists provide support and guidance. Therapists have a range of educational backgrounds and experience in the types of interventions they use to support clients in working towards the decrease of mental health concerns and increase of day to day functioning. You may find a therapist with masters degree in social work (LCSW), psychology (PsyD) marriage and family counseling (LMFT), Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP)and psychiatry (MD). Many therapists who specialize in working with children obtain additional training to become Registered Play Therapists or Registered Play Therapy Supervisors. All of these professionals are trained in the identification, assessment and treatment of common mental health disorders. Some may do formal diagnostic assessment or testing. Only a few such as PMHNP or Psychiatrists are able to perform medication evaluations, and then prescribe/monitor medications.

Registered Play Therapist (RPT) /Registered Play Therapy Supervisor (RPTS): A registered play therapist is a licensed mental health professional who has pursued additional training and certification in play therapy theory, child development, assessment, and intervention. While it may seem like play therapists only work with children, the training to become a play therapist includes extensive learning about working with parents, care givers, and families as a whole unit. A registered play therapy supervisor has completed the training and hours to become a RPT, practiced as an RPT for a period of time and now is certified to supervise other therapists who are in the process of obtaining RPT credentials.

Psychologist (PsyD): Psychologists are not medical doctors. They have education in psychology ranging from bachelors to doctoral degrees. Psychologists provide counseling/therapy to support mental health and well being. In addition, clinical psychologists are also trained to complete diagnostic testing, evaluations, (ranging from IQ tests, learning disabilities, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and other areas of mental health functioning), and research. Psychologists are not able to prescribe medications and would refer clients to either a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner or Psychiatric and coordinate care.

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: PMHNP’s provide a range of services that can include assessment, diagnosis, treatment of mental health concerns. PMHNP’s may provide therapy services as well as medication evaluation and monitoring.

Psychiatrist: A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who pursued specialization in psychiatry (the study of mental health and mental disorders) and is able to prescribe /monitor medications. Some psychiatrists also engage in providing therapy however it is more common for them to coordinate with therapists for the social/emotional, behavioral, and coping skills intervention and support their patients need.

Child Therapy Consultation in Littleton, CO

 I hope this helps you find the right mental health professional in Littleton, CO. If you are still feeling stuck, I encourage you to schedule a 20 minute video consultation today. As a social worker at heart, I thrive when I am listening to caregivers describe the current challenges they are facing, and then connecting them to the appropriate resources to bring some hope and ease into the day to day experience of raising kids. If you are looking for help with your child’s challenging behaviors or BIG emotions, you can read more about how I help .