Integrated Child Therapy Denver, CO
Where Play Therapy and Parent Consultation Come Together
You Know Your Child. I Know Behavior and Therapy.
We work together to create the lasting change you desire
You’ve brought your child to play therapy because you see they’re struggling, and you’re ready to get them support. Maybe it’s big emotions that erupt out of nowhere, constant meltdowns over the smallest things, or confusing behavior that no parenting book seems to address. You’ve tried the strategies—rewards, consequences, talking it through—but nothing seems to create lasting change. And while your child is in therapy, part of you still wonders:
“Am I doing the right thing?”
“Will this really help in the long run?”
“Is there something more I should be doing?”
You might feel a mix of hope and uncertainty, guilt and relief. That’s completely normal. You care deeply about your child, and you want to show up for them in the best way possible.
Here’s the good news: you don’t have to figure it all out alone.
At our practice, our team of Play Therapists in Denver believes that the most effective therapy happens when parents are included—not as bystanders, but as active, supported partners in the process. Because when we link what’s happening in the playroom to what’s happening at home, that’s where real, sustainable change begins.
It’s Not “Just Play”—It’s a Therapeutic Process with Parent Support Built In
To your child, their 40 minutes in the playroom each week may feel like a fun break—a chance to play, explore, and be themselves. They might even ask, ‘When do I get to go back to play therapy?’ or light up when they know it’s time for their special session with their therapist. Even though your child might come out of the session saying they just played with dolls, built towers, or battled superheroes, what’s actually happening underneath that play is far more powerful. In that space, they’re making sense of their world—expressing emotions they don’t yet have words for, working through fears and frustrations, and beginning to imagine new ways of coping, connecting, and feeling safe
But here’s what we also know: children don’t grow in isolation. Their healing doesn’t stop at the therapy room door. Real, lasting change takes root when parents and caregivers understand what’s unfolding beneath the surface—and feel supported in responding to it with empathy and clarity at home.
That’s why parent consultation isn’t an “add-on” to therapy—it’s a foundational part of how our team approaches our work as play therapists in Denver. Your insight, your questions, and your experience as a parent matter. When we combine your deep knowledge of your child with my understanding of therapeutic play, we become a powerful team helping your child grow toward confidence, emotional regulation, and connection.
What to Expect from Parent Consultation in Play Therapy
Each time you bring your child to an individual therapy session, we’ll begin or end with a brief 5-10-minute check-in. This is a moment of connection—just you and your child’s therapist—so we can stay on the same page. These aren’t for unloading the latest challenge (and especially not in front of your child), but they are a time for updates, encouragement, shared focus, and often logistics (scheduling, billing, etc).
The real depth of our work together unfolds in scheduled parent consultation sessions, typically held once a month—or more often if your family needs extra support. These 45-minute, one-on-one sessions are where we pause, reflect, and connect beyond the quick check-ins at drop-off or pick-up. It’s your time to step out of survival mode and step into deeper understanding.
During these consultations, I’ll help you make sense of what’s unfolding in your child’s play therapy—whether you’re participating in the sessions with your child or hearing about the session afterward. Even the simplest play holds powerful clues about your child’s inner world. Together, we’ll look at the themes emerging in their play and how those connect to the therapy goals we’ve set. You’ll gain insight into what your child is processing emotionally, often things they can’t yet put into words. Most importantly, you’ll leave with practical, personalized tools to support your child in the moments that matter most: at home, in the classroom, and out in the world.
This is also a space for your voice. You can bring your questions, your concerns, your “Is this normal?” moments, and your “What do I do when…?” stories. We’ll troubleshoot together, celebrate wins (even the small ones!), and reconnect you with your parenting strengths.
You’re not expected to “fix” your child. You don’t need to have it all figured out. But when you understand why they’re acting the way they are, your responses naturally shift. And that’s where the transformation really takes hold—for both of you.
From Confusion to Clarity: What Parents Really Gain from Consultation
One parent said it best:
“Once we understood the behavior better, we knew how to support the change we wanted to see.”
That’s the heart of parent consultation. These sessions aren’t about quick fixes or stopping behavior in the moment—they’re about slowing down and asking better questions. Instead of “How do I make this stop?” we begin to ask, “What is my child trying to tell me—and how can I meet them there?”
Understanding replaces guessing. Clarity replaces chaos. And with that shift, everything changes.
In our work together, you’ll begin to:
Feel more confident when big emotions show up—knowing how to respond instead of react
Understand the “why” behind your child’s behaviors, rather than feeling caught off guard by them
Support your child in ways that build trust, emotional regulation, and resilience
Recognize your own triggers and shift patterns that leave you feeling stuck or discouraged
Find more ease and connection in your everyday parenting—not because it’s perfect, but because it’s more grounded
You may never have thought that parenting would include finding a child therapist and navigating the world of play therapy. Yet here you are—doing everything you can to support your child’s growth. Along the way, this process can stir up big emotions of your own—guilt, fear, grief, even self-doubt. That’s not a sign you’re failing as a parent. It’s a reflection of how deeply you love and care for your child. Our consultation sessions create space for you, too, to be heard, understood, and supported every step of the way.
Therapy Isn’t Something Done To Your Child, It’s Something We Do Together
Play therapy isn’t a service where you drop your child off and hope for the best. It’s not about “fixing” behavior or checking boxes. It’s a relational, respectful process—and it works best when we’re working together.
This isn’t something I do to your child—it’s something we co-create.
As a Play Therapist in Denver, I bring my training, experience, and deep understanding of how children heal through play. You bring your day-in, day-out relationship with your child, your lived experience as their parent, and the fierce love that drives you to seek help in the first place.
Together, we become a team working toward one shared goal: helping your child feel safe, connected, emotionally grounded, and more fully themselves.
Your role is not passive—it’s powerful. When you’re included and supported, your child’s growth accelerates. And when you feel more confident and clear in your parenting, everyone in the family benefits.
If you’re looking for a Play Therapist in Denver who values you as an essential part of the process—not an observer on the sidelines—you’re in the right place.
Understand your child. Support their growth. Feel confident as a parent.
You don’t have to keep second-guessing yourself or wondering if you’re doing enough. You deserve to feel grounded, supported, and clear in your parenting, and your child deserves a team that’s truly working together to understand and nurture who they are.
If you’re feeling unsure, overwhelmed, or just ready for a new approach, we invite you to take the next step.
Schedule a free minute video consultation today. We’ll talk about what’s going on for your child, what you’re hoping for, and how play therapy—with built-in parent consultation and support—can help your entire family move forward with more clarity and connection.
What Parents Often Ask About Parent Consultation
You might still have questions about what parent consultation really looks like and how it can support your child’s progress in play therapy (and overall assist family with ease towards desired outcomes). That’s completely normal. Here are some of the most common things I talk through with caregivers who are new to this process and wondering how it all fits together.
-
Those brief check-ins are a helpful way to stay connected, but they’re not the right space for deeper conversations. Parent consultation sessions offer uninterrupted time to reflect on your child’s therapy, understand emerging themes in their play, and talk through what’s coming up at home. It’s in these longer sessions where insight, strategy, and real growth come together.
-
These 50-minute sessions are designed to help you make sense of your child’s emotional world and behaviors. We will follow a structured framework to guide us through understanding behavior, supporting the nervous system, responding to challenging behaviors, and exploring what gets in the way of applying this way of supporting children can be challenging. We’ll discuss what’s unfolding in their play therapy, how that connects to their development, and explore tools that support their growth at home. You’re invited to bring your questions, stories, and challenges so we can work through them together.
-
While parent coaching often focuses on specific strategies to manage behavior, parent consultation is rooted in the ongoing therapeutic process your child is engaged in. These sessions are not about quick fixes—they’re about making sense of your child’s emotional world and tailoring support based on what’s emerging in therapy. As a Play Therapist, I bring clinical insight and developmental understanding to help you respond with more clarity and connection.
-
No. These sessions are not about prescribing a right or wrong way to parent. Instead, we’ll explore new ways of understanding your child’s behaviors, needs, and communication—so your responses feel more aligned, attuned, and grounded. Many parents leave feeling more confident and connected, not because they were “taught” something, but because things finally make sense.
-
That’s completely normal—and welcome. Parenting a child who is struggling can stir up a lot: fear, guilt, confusion, even grief. Parent consultation is a space for your experience, too. You don’t have to hold it all together here. We’ll hold space for the emotions that come up and help you move forward with clarity and support.
-
This depends on where your child/family is at in the therapy process. Typically we will plan on 10-12 structured parent consultation sessions scheduled weekly or bi-weekly during the first 3-4 months of your child’s therapy process. We will discuss frequency of parent consultation sessions as part of the individualized plan created to meet your child’s goals. These sessions are scheduled to support the first 16-20 sessions of your child’s therapy process. Once we have the foundation established, we can decrease frequency to support your child’s ongoing therapy goals.
-
If both parents or caregivers are involved and able to attend, that can be helpful, but it’s not required. Some families choose to rotate who attends, while others designate one parent to take the lead in consultation. We’ll talk together about what makes the most sense for your family and your child’s needs.
-
That’s completely okay. You don’t need to come in with an agenda. We utilize a structured framework based on Robyn Gobbel’s Raising Kids with Big Baffling Behaviors, From there I’ll guide the conversation based on what’s happening in therapy and what I’ve been observing in your child’s play. Often, once we start talking, the important questions and insights naturally come up.
-
Parenting brings up complex emotions, and it’s normal to worry about saying the “wrong” thing. This space is judgment-free and built for honesty. You’re welcome to bring up anything—your own reactions, fears, or questions about parenting—and we’ll work through it together with care and curiosity. These sessions are also a space to share feedback about how therapy is going for you and your child. Whether something is working really well or doesn’t feel quite right, I want to hear that. Your perspective helps us stay aligned and responsive to your child’s needs.
-
Yes. Some parents choose to continue with occasional consultation sessions after their child has completed therapy, especially during transitions or challenging developmental phases. These check-ins can be a helpful way to stay grounded and supported as your parenting evolves.

