NeurodiversityAffirming Play Therapy
Can play therapy help my neurodivergent child?
Play benefits all childern. Play therapy can be an effective tool to meet children where they are developmentally, emotionally, mentally, socially and physically. Fostering a relationship that is warm and affirming leads to supported developmental progress. Optimizing this relationship requires a deep understanding of tailoring interventions and connection to help your child reach their potential.
I incorporate play into working with all ages! Play is an effective strategy to learn new skills and for me to join into your child’s world. We use play because sometimes we don’t have the right words, lots of neurodivergents are visual thinkers, and children are still gaining the developmental insight to cognitively process their world. I am there to create an environment of safety, trust and support. Emotions, challenges, and big topics naturally come up and my skills allow me to guide your child through them with safety.
How Play Therapy Works?
Initial Intake Session: I learn about your child's development, your challenges, and our goals. Then, I introduce your child to the playspace, encouraging questions and interests. The initial sessions focus on building safety and trust with your child.
Typical Sessions: I incorporate DIR floortime and Autplay principles in guiding our play sessions. I attune, engage, respond, expand, pretend, challenge and reflect which allows children and teens to regulate, connect, reciprocate, communicate, create, think and self-reflect. Over time this builds connection and growth. Primarly I use child led play but in times that children need more structure I provide games, bibliotherapy, and activities to help children reach their goals.
Child Led Play: While we work together as a team to build goals the child leads the play and I join them in their world. This allows me to build skills where they are at in a joyful experience.
Adult Led Play: When more structure is required, I create activities which provide guardrails and direction as your child grows.