Play Therapy
Play Therapy for Kids in Raleigh, NC
Play is often the way children communicate when words feel difficult. At Birch Therapy, play therapy provides children with a safe space to communicate their feelings, explore their thoughts, and work through challenges in a way that feels natural and empowering.
If your child is struggling with anxiety, grief, behavioral challenges, or other difficulties, play therapy can help them find their voice and develop skills they need to cope and thrive.
Understanding Play Therapy
Play therapy is an evidence-based approach to therapy for children aged 3 to 12. It uses play as a medium to help children express their emotions, solve problems, and learn coping strategies. Through art, sand tray, role playing, games, and pretend play, children can work through challenges they may not be able to express in words.
Play therapy gives children an opportunity to express their inner world in a safe and supportive environment. At Birch Therapy, play is used to help children process difficult emotions and experiences while developing emotional regulation, self-esteem, confidence, coping strategies, and problem-solving skills.
Signs You or Your Family May Benefit
Children can have a hard time expressing their emotions through words, especially when faced with difficult situations. Play therapy may be helpful when your child is experiencing challenges such as:
Common Signs
Having frequent meltdowns, tantrums, or outbursts that feel bigger than the moment
Struggling with worry, fear, or separation anxiety
Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities they used to enjoy
Having a hard time at school-academically, socially, or behaviorally
Navigating a big change like divorce, a move, a new sibling, or a loss
Showing changes in sleep, appetite, or mood
Being especially hard on themselves or getting stuck in perfectionism
If your child is having difficulty communicating what they are feeling or working through a challenging situation, play therapy can provide a way for them to express themselves and develop skills to cope and thrive.
How Play Therapy Can Help
Play therapy uses play as a medium to help children communicate, process emotions, solve problems, and develop coping strategies.
Child Therapy Can Help Your Child
Understand their emotions - learning to notice, name, and work through feelings instead of being overwhelmed by them
Develop new and creative solutions they can use at home, at school, and with friends
Strengthen relationships with parents, siblings, and peers
Grow their confidence and sense of self as they experience small wins and feel truly understood
These goals can help children develop skills such as emotional expression, problem-solving, and communication.
Our Approach to Care
At Birch Therapy, we recognize that child-led play therapy and playful therapy are not the same clinical approach. Child-led play therapy is a specific therapeutic modality in which the child's play is considered the primary language of communication and healing.
Our practice also recognizes that playfulness can be used as a style or intervention tool within other therapeutic modalities. Depending on the child's needs, therapy may incorporate games, art, humor, movement, or imaginative activities while remaining guided by approaches such as CBT, ACT, attachment work, social skills training, ERP, or DBT skills.
Above all, Birch Therapy does not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Different children need different approaches, and the practice works to match each family with the right clinician and care for their needs.
What to Expect During Therapy
Each child's counseling experience is unique. Generally, the process begins with an initial assessment scheduled with parents, where a treatment plan is created to address needs, challenges, and goals.
Initial Consultation
The process begins with an initial assessment with parents to understand the child's needs, challenges, and goals and create a treatment plan.
Ongoing Sessions
During weekly 45–50 minute sessions, your child will be guided through various play activities designed to express emotions and develop new skills.
Parent Involvement
Parents are encouraged to be involved through regular updates to help ensure progress. Families looking for additional parent and child support can also explore family therapy services.
Progress looks different for every child, and we'll celebrate the growth along the way.
Areas We Support
Our child therapists support kids and families through a wide range of concerns, including:
Social Skills & Anxiety
Parenting & Family Systems Conflicts
Anxiety & Depression
Adoption & Attachment
Grief & Loss
Co-Parenting Strategies
ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)
Perfectionism and harsh inner critic
OCD
Neurodivergent Thinkers & Twice Exceptional (2E)
Birch Therapy also works with trauma and PTSD, body and gender dysmorphia, nonverbal learning disorder, anger management, academic difficulties, adjustment due to temporary stressors, selective mutism, and emotional dysregulation and sensory needs.
If you don't see your child's specific challenge here, please reach out-there's a good chance we can help or point you in the right direction.
Long-Term Benefits of Play Therapy
Birch Therapy's play therapy team provides children with a warm and welcoming environment where they can safely explore and express themselves.
Emotional Regulation
Learn to experience and express emotions
Support Independence
Increase self-responsibility at home and school
Confidence & Resilience
Build self-efficacy and confidence regarding abilities
Navigate Challenges
Develop new and creative solutions to problems
Play therapy can also help children cultivate empathy and respect for the thoughts and feelings of others, improve communication among parents, children, and peers, and develop respect and acceptance of themselves and others.
Why Families Choose Birch Therapy
We're Experienced
Established in 2010, our practice includes a team of skilled, compassionate therapists who specialize in play therapy.
We Specialize in Kids
The practice has 20 therapists specifically trained to work with children from birth.
We're Collaborative
Play therapists work with children and their families, collaborating with parents to support the child's individual needs.
Friendly Environment
We create a warm, welcoming space. The goal is to create an environment where children feel safe to explore.
Start Your Therapy Journey
If you are ready to get started with play therapy in North Carolina, Birch Therapy's team of therapists is ready to connect with you. The practice provides a process for beginning your child's therapeutic journey and creating lasting connections.
Contact Birch Therapy to get started, learn about the team of play therapists, and begin your child's therapeutic journey.