Why Play Therapy?
When adults go to therapy, we sit down and talk things through. For kids, putting complex feelings like anxiety, frustration, or grief into words isn't always easy. Children process their world through play. It’s the most natural, stress-free way for them to show us what they're feeling.
Toys, games, art, and sandtray activities become the natural tools your child uses to express "big, stormy" feelings, work through life's unexpected bumps, and share what’s going on inside.
What Actually Happens in a Play Room?
It’s so much more than just a fun hour of playtime! In our South Pasadena office, sessions take place in a warm, welcoming space thoughtfully designed to make your child feel safe, seen, and supported.
In the play room, your child gets to:
Unpack big emotions: Process fear, sadness, or anger through creative play, stories, and art.
Practice real-life skills: Build self-control, practice problem-solving, and try out new coping strategies in real time.
Grow their confidence: Develop a healthy sense of self, learn how to express their needs clearly, and feel proud of who they are.
Instead of just putting a bandage on hard behaviors, play therapy helps us gently get to the root of what’s driving them so we can bring more calm and joy back into your home.
What is a Registered Play Therapist™ (RPT™)?
Beyond standard licensing, earning the Registered Play Therapist™ designation requires extensive post-graduate coursework, clinical supervision, and hundreds of hours dedicated strictly to child development and play-based healing. It means every game, activity, and interaction in our sessions is intentionally designed to help your child process emotions and thrive.
Want to learn more about how play therapy helps families? Visit the Association for Play Therapy Parents Corner to explore additional resources and research.
How I Partner with Parents
You are the absolute expert on your child, and you’re a vital part of this journey! I schedule regular parent consultations so we can collaborate, celebrate progress, and equip you with practical tools to use right at home.
Depending on your child's needs, I also offer dyadic (parent-child) sessions, where you and your child join me in the playroom together. Through guided, play-based activities, these joint sessions help strengthen your bond, improve communication, and give you a chance to practice new supportive tools in real time.
(Have questions about how parent consultations work or how play therapy supports school challenges? Check out our [FAQs page] for more details!)
Let’s Get Started Together
If your child is navigating a tough transition, school stress, or big emotional waves, you don't have to figure it out alone.
Office Location: In-person sessions at 1101 Fremont Ave, South Pasadena
Best For: Children ages 3-10