Welcome Parents and Caregivers!

The Parents Corner is dedicated to parents and caregivers.  It is a place to ask questions, gather information, find resources, and familiarize yourself with Play Therapy as a modality of child therapy.

Should you need further assistance, please contact our Clinical Coordinator, Claudia Vega, PhD.

What Is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy, a modality of child therapy, is a powerful tool for addressing cognitive, behavioral, and emotional challenges. Licensed professionals use play therapeutically to help clients better process their experiences and develop more effective strategies for managing their worlds.  For additional information regarding play therapy and its benefits, please see Play Therapy Makes a Difference!

Does My Child Need Play Therapy?

Deciding whether or not to take your child to a play therapist for child and/or family therapy is a personal choice.  Children are seen in therapy for an array of reasons, such as behavioral issues (caused by bullying, grief and loss, divorce and abandonment, physical and sexual abuse, and crisis and trauma) and mental health disorders (ie: anxiety, depression, attention deficit/hyperactivity or ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, academic and social impairment, physical and learning disabilities, and conduct disorders).  Please refer to Social, Emotional and Behavioral Disorders for additional information on this topic

Research suggests Play Therapy is an effective mental health approach, regardless of age, gender, or the nature of the problem, and works best when a parent, family member, or caretaker is actively involved in the treatment process.

What does a Play Therapy Session look like?

Play therapy sessions are as unique as the individuals who seek them.  Although it is impossible to predict exactly what will happen due to an array of factors (such as the child's presenting problem, therapist professional orientation, parental involvement, financial constraints, etc.) there are commonalities most share.  Please refer to the What to Expect in a Play Therapy Session page on our website. 

Where Can I Find a Play Therapist?

Play Therapists are licensed mental health professionals who have earned a Master's or Doctorate degree in a mental health field and obtained considerable general clinical experience and supervision. Examples include professional counselors, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, clinical school counselors, clinical school psychologists, psychiatric nurses, etc.

Registered Play Therapists (RPT) and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisors (RPT-S) are licensed professionals who have obtained additional education, training, and supervised experience in the field of play therapy. 

Locate a credentialed play therapist in the Find Play Therapist Directory.   

In the News . . .

In this section, you will find topics of current interest in the media related to children, mental health, and play therapy.  Check back frequently to see current trends and topics.

• My Story about the School Shootings (Children's Psychological Health Center)
  
• Put the Oxygen Mask on Yourself (Family Therapy Magazine)
  
• After the Shooting:  What Parents Can Do (James Madison University)
  
• After the Attack: What Educators Can Do for Children and Adolescents (James Madison University)
• Responding to Hurricane Harvey (American Psychological Association)
• Mentoring Youth Dealing with Disasters and Traumas (James Madison University)
• Talking to Children About Natural Disasters (American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)
• Tornadoes, Hurricanes, and Children (American Psychological Association)
• Managing Traumatic Stress: After the Hurricanes (American Psychological Association)
• How to Talk to Kids About the Manchester Terror Attack (ABC News, 2017)
  
• How to Talk to Kids About Terrorism (parents.com, 2017)
• How to Talk to Children About the Manchester Concert Attack (CBC News, 2017)
• How much news coverage is OK for children? (American Psychological Association, July 2016)
• PTSD in Children and Adolescents (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2016)
  
• ACA Responds to Shootings in Baton Rouge, Minneapolis and Dallas (American Counseling Association, July 2016)
• NASP Statement Regarding Recent Acts of Violence (National Association of School Psychologists, July 2016)

Disclaimer:

APT Parents Corner is a resource section for parents and caregivers intended for informational and educational purposes only. The resources on this site should not be construed as advice or used to replace the specialized analysis and professional judgment of health care or mental health care professionals. APT Parents Corner disclaims any liability for the use of the information provided on APT Parents Corner. If you have specific concerns about your child or children, please consult a trained medical or mental health professional before making any decision regarding treatment, therapy or educational plan of your child (or a child you are working with).

All content on the APT Parents Corner is used at the discretion of the reader and APT is not responsible for  unintentional erroneous information. APT Parents Corner links to many sites. APT does not control the information on those sites or make any representations as to their accuracy.  APT reserves the right to make changes to this web page at any time without notice. All terms of the APT Privacy Policy and Disclaimers apply to this web page.