Play Therapy for Children in Centennial, CO

Play Therapy: Giving Your Child a Voice When Words Aren’t Enough

As a parent, it’s hard to watch your child struggle, and even harder when you can’t fully understand what they’re feeling. Maybe your child holds it together all day at school, only to melt down once they’re home. Maybe they shut down, get overwhelmed easily, or seem anxious but can’t explain why.

You know something is going on beneath the surface. But when your child can’t put it into words or won’t open up, it can leave you feeling stuck and unsure how to help.

If your child is struggling with anxiety, emotional outbursts, or shutting down at home, play therapy can help. I’m a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist, and I provide play therapy in Centennial, CO, serving families in the Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and surrounding South Denver communities.

Is Play Therapy Right for Your Child?

Play therapy may be a good fit if your child:

→ Struggles with anxiety, panic, or frequent worries

→ Has emotional outbursts, meltdowns, or shutdowns

→ Has difficulty expressing feelings with words

→ Seems overwhelmed, sensitive, or easily frustrated

→ Acts differently at school than at home

How Play Therapy Works

Play therapy is an evidence-based form of child therapy that helps children process emotions, anxiety, and life experiences through play, their natural language. Developmentally, children don’t yet have the ability to fully process complex emotions through conversation alone. Instead, they communicate through play. Play therapy is especially effective for children experiencing anxiety and emotional overwhelm, helping them process what they don’t yet have words for.

Through play therapy, children can:

• Express feelings they don’t yet have words for

• Process anxiety, stress, and overwhelming experiences

• Work through challenges in a safe, supportive environment

• Build new patterns of coping, regulation, and connection

Just as adults use words in therapy, children use play to make sense of their world. This helps children build real-life skills to manage anxiety, express emotions, and feel more in control both at home and at school.

What Makes Synergetic Play Therapy Different

My work is grounded in Synergetic Play Therapy, a cutting-edge and research-informed model of play therapy that integrates attachment theory, neuroscience, and nervous system regulation. What makes this approach different is that we don’t just focus on your child’s behavior—we focus on what’s happening underneath it.

In Synergetic Play Therapy:

• Your child’s emotional experiences are seen as meaningful, not something to fix or stop. This teaches your child how to move through emotions in a healthy way, not avoid or suppress them

• Big feelings (like anxiety, frustration, or anger) are welcomed and worked through, not avoided

• The focus is on helping your child learn how to notice, tolerate, and regulate their internal experiences

Instead of teaching coping skills in a disconnected way, your child practices regulation in the moment, with support, while those feelings are actually happening. This approach helps your child:

• Understand what their body is telling them

• Build capacity to stay with difficult feelings without becoming overwhelmed

• Develop regulation skills that actually work in real-life situations

Over time, this leads to fewer emotional explosions, more flexibility, and a greater sense of confidence and control.

What Sessions Look Like

Many parents wonder what will actually happen during a play therapy session. In sessions, your child leads the process in a safe, structured way. I use a primarily non-directive, child-centered approach, which allows your child to move at their own pace and feel a sense of control and safety. This creates the conditions for deeper emotional work and authentic expression. As therapy progresses, I may incorporate more directive interventions based on your child’s needs, goals, and strengths.

Sessions are typically held weekly or biweekly to create consistency and momentum.

Each session includes:

• 40 minutes with your child

• 10-minute parent check-in to share insights, progress, and strategies for home and school

I also provide practical support for parents, including tools, handouts, and guidance, so you feel more confident supporting your child between sessions. Over time, as progress is made, sessions may shift to biweekly or monthly.

Session Cost: $155 per session. I can provide needed documentation (such as superbills) for out-of-network reimbursement if applicable.
Reduced Rate: Limited spots are available—please reach out to inquire about availability for sliding reduced rates or free counseling options.

Benefits of Play Therapy for Children with Anxiety and Emotional Overwhelm

Through play therapy, your child can:

• Decrease meltdowns and emotional outbursts

• Improve ability to manage anxiety and frustration

• Develop stronger emotional regulation skills

• Increase confidence and self-expression

• Improve communication and connection at home

If you’re ready to see positive changes in your child’s emotional and behavioral patterns, fill out the contact form below. In a free 15-minute parent phone consultation, we can talk through what’s going on, answer your questions, and see if play therapy feels like the right fit.