Child-Centered Play Sessions
When Your Child's Behavior is Speaking a Language You Don't Understand
Your child is struggling, and you feel it in your bones.
Maybe they're having explosive meltdowns that leave everyone shaken. Maybe they've withdrawn—silent where they used to be vibrant. Maybe they're anxious, aggressive, or so stuck in repetitive behaviors that nothing you say seems to reach them.
You've tried consequences. You've tried rewards. You've tried gentle parenting scripts and setting firmer boundaries. You've read the books, followed the experts, and maybe even worked with professionals.
But something still feels... off.
Because here's what most parenting strategies miss: Your child isn't trying to be difficult. They're trying to tell you something.
And sometimes, the most powerful way they can communicate isn't through words—it's through play.
Play is your child's first language — long before they have words for big feelings, their bodies and their play tell the story.
Child-Centered Play Sessions give me a window into how your child's nervous system is organizing their world.
I get to see:
How they move through stress, uncertainty, and connection
What their body reaches for when they need to feel safe or settled
Where they might be stretching beyond their current capacity
This isn't about diagnosing or fixing your child. It's about deeply understanding what their behavior is trying to communicate.
This understanding becomes the foundation for family integration, where caregivers are supported in responding with clarity, safety, and connection at home.
You'll learn to meet your child's needs (and your own) with more ease, attunement, and less second-guessing.
As a practitioner certified in Child Centered Play Methods with a neurorelational focus, I use evidence-based play techniques rooted in attachment theory, nervous system regulation, and child development—tools that create real, lasting change within families.
What are Child Centered Play Sessions
This Might Be For Your Family If…
You're feeling stuck in repeating patterns:
Meltdowns, shutdowns, or big behaviors that your current strategies aren't shifting
You've tried different approaches but something still feels misaligned
You sense there's a piece of the puzzle you're missing about what your child needs
Traditional approaches haven't worked:
They can't or won't tell you what's really going on
Parenting strategies help in the moment, but the deeper patterns persist
You want to understand what their behavior is communicating so you can respond more effectively
You're wondering how their nervous system is organizing stress, transitions, or connection
You're navigating something significant as a family:
A transition (new sibling, move, separation, loss)
Changes in your child's mood, sleep, or social comfort
Patterns that feel bigger than typical developmental stages
You're not sure what's wrong, but you know something is:
Your intuition is saying my child needs more support
You're seeing regression in behaviors they'd outgrown
They're stuck in patterns (aggression, people-pleasing, control battles) that don't shift no matter what you try
You want to show up with more clarity, confidence, and attunement
Why Play? Why Not Just Talk?
Because children ages 3-12 don't process the world the way adults do.
Their brains aren't wired yet for insight-based talk therapy. When we ask young children to "use their words" or "tell us how they feel," we're asking them to do something developmentally out of reach—especially when they're stressed or dysregulated.
But give them toys, art supplies, sand, or puppets? Suddenly, the feelings pour out.
Through play, children often show us how they:
Make sense of experiences through repetition and story
Communicate anger, fear, or confusion symbolically
Explore themes of power, control, and safety
Signal where connection has felt disrupted
In our sessions, I observe how your child naturally organizes their world through play—what they gravitate toward, what they avoid, how they navigate challenge, connection, and regulation.
I'm not intervening. I'm watching, tracking, and learning what their nervous system is communicating.
This helps parents understand the internal world of their child—so we can work together to create real, lasting change in how your family connects and responds to each other.
What Sessions Look Like
Location: Sessions take place in a dedicated play space (in person)
Length: Typically 45 minutes per session
Frequency: Weekly consistency is ideal for building trust and momentum
Your role: After initial sessions, I'll meet with you to share observations, offer insight into what's unfolding, and support you in reinforcing progress at home
I'm not replacing mental health care if your child needs it (and I'll let you know if I think they do).
What I am doing is creating a nervous system-informed, attachment-focused space where the entire family can land softly. A space where everybody can feel seen, understood and be more regulated, together.
Why Work With Me?
You might be thinking: Shouldn't I take my child to a licensed therapist?
Maybe. And if your child needs that level of clinical care, I'll tell you.
But here's what I offer that many traditional therapy settings don't:
✨ A relational, flexible approach that doesn't require a diagnosis or insurance approval
✨ Nervous system-informed play and parent coaching rooted in attachment, regulation and developmental neuroscience—not just behavioral management
✨ Family centered support—I'm not just working with your child, I'm supporting your entire family system
✨ A temperament-based lens—I see your child as a whole person, not a set of symptoms
✨ Accessibility—shorter wait times, more availability, and a collaborative partnership (not a clinical hierarchy)
I've worked with hundreds of families. I understand child development, nervous system responses, and how early experiences shape behavior. I know how to sit with big feelings, hold space for the entire family, and help families find their way back to connection.
Most importantly? I care deeply about getting this right.
What Parents Notice After Working Together
Parents often share shifts they notice at home as they start to honor their child’s nervous system and adjust responses at home.
"He used to shut down every time I tried to talk about his feelings. Now he's bringing things up on his own."
"The tantrums haven't disappeared, but they're shorter. And he recovers faster. It feels like he trusts me again."
"I finally understand what was underneath all that anger. And now that I see it, I can actually support him."
Let's Talk About Your Family
If you've read this far, something in your gut is saying: This. This is what we need.
Trust that instinct.
You don't need to have it all figured out. You don't need a diagnosis or a crisis. You just need to know that your family is struggling—and that you want to do something that will create a lasting impact.
I offer a free 20-minute consultation where we'll talk about what's going on, what you've tried, and whether these play sessions might be fit.
No pressure. No judgment. Just two people who care about your family, figuring out the next right step.
Frequently Asked Questions
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No. I'm not a licensed therapist, so I don't diagnose or provide clinical mental health treatment. If I believe your child needs that level of care, I'll refer you to appropriate providers. What I do offer is nervous system-informed, attachment-focused play support that can be used alongside therapy, depending on your child's needs.
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I work with children ages 3-12
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Every family is different. Some see shifts in 6-8 sessions. Others benefit from longer-term support (12-20+ sessions). We'll reassess regularly and adjust based on what your family needs.
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That's okay. Part of my training is meeting children where they are—whether they're shy, resistant, hyperactive, or anywhere in between. The process adapts to them, not the other way around.
Your child's behavior is not the problem. It's the message.
Let's figure out what they're trying to say.
Important Disclosure: I am not a licensed mental health professional or therapist. I hold a Bachelor's in Psychology and an MBA, and I am a master certified parent coach with specialized training in child-centered play methods through Play Strong Institute (with a neurorelational focus). These sessions are educational and supportive in nature and are not a substitute for mental health therapy or treatment. If your child needs clinical mental health care, I will help you identify that and connect you with appropriate resources.