What is Play Therapy?

Overview of how play therapy works from the official APT site.

The Power of Play

Play therapy is evidenced-based to assist several problems, such as anger, grief and loss, divorce and abandonment, crisis and trauma, anxiety, depression, attention deficit hyperactivity (ADHD), autism, conduct disorders and others.

The Association for Play Therapy defines play therapy as "the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development."

Sand tray

Bethany has completed over 70 hours of play therapy sand tray training and is a registered play therapist specializing in children ages 5-12 as well as teens.

Bethany also uses animal-assisted therapy with Penny, her poodle. Penny is a therapy dog registered through Pet Partners. She loves welcoming clients with her calm and sweet presence!

According to Pet Partners, a multitude of studies have found that people who interacted with a therapy animal report feeling less stressed, less anxious, and enhanced feelings of social support and energy.