Play Therapy for Kids in Davidson & Cornelius, NC

Children don't always have the words to explain what they're feeling or what they're going through. Play gives them another way to communicate.

Through play therapy, children can express thoughts and feelings, process difficult experiences, develop coping and problem-solving skills, and learn healthier ways to manage emotions and relationships.

Davidson Family Therapy provides play therapy for children in Davidson and Cornelius, NC, using developmentally appropriate approaches designed to meet kids where they are.

What Is Play Therapy?

For adults, talking is often the most natural way to work through an experience. For children, that isn't always the case.

Play is one of the primary ways children learn, communicate, explore relationships, and make sense of the world around them. In play therapy, a trained therapist uses that natural form of expression to help a child communicate and work through things they may not yet know how to put into words.

Depending on the child and therapist, sessions may incorporate play, art, music, conversation, and other developmentally appropriate activities.

How Can Play Therapy Help?

Play therapy can help children develop skills that extend beyond the therapy room, including:

• Expressing thoughts and feelings

• Regulating emotions

• Building confidence and self-esteem

• Developing problem-solving skills

• Improving communication

• Building healthier relationships

• Learning ways to cope with difficult experiences

Children may come to play therapy for many different reasons, including anxiety, grief and loss, divorce or family changes, bullying, behavioral concerns, trauma, school challenges, and other emotional or social difficulties.

What Does Play Therapy Look Like?

Play therapy isn't simply giving a child toys and letting them play.

Trained therapists use developmentally appropriate activities and therapeutic techniques to understand what a child is communicating, help them process experiences, and build skills for managing emotions and challenges.

The exact approach will depend on your child's age, development, personality, and needs.

What Role Do Parents Play?

Parents and caregivers are an important part of a child's development and can also play an important role in therapy.

Depending on your child's needs, your therapist may involve you in the therapeutic process, provide guidance for supporting your child outside of sessions, or work with you to strengthen the parent-child relationship.

The goal is not only to support your child during therapy, but to help carry that progress into everyday life.

Learn About Family Therapy

Why Choose a Therapist Trained to Work With Children?

Children experience and communicate about the world differently than adults. Effective therapy with children requires an understanding of child development as well as the ability to communicate in ways that make sense for a child's age and developmental stage.

Davidson Family Therapy has therapists who specialize in working with children and use approaches designed specifically for younger clients.

Play Therapy in Davidson & Cornelius

Davidson Family Therapy offers play therapy for kids at our Davidson and Cornelius offices, serving children and families throughout the Lake Norman area.

If you're unsure whether play therapy or another type of child counseling would be the best fit, you don't need to figure that out on your own. We can help you determine an appropriate place to start.

View Our Davidson & Cornelius Locations

Find Support for Your Child

If your child is struggling emotionally, behaviorally, socially, or with a difficult experience or transition, therapy can give them a place to express what they're going through in a way that makes sense to them.

Davidson Family Therapy provides play therapy and counseling for children in Davidson and Cornelius, NC.