Play Therapy for Children and Families in Los Angeles

What Issues Can Play Therapy Help With?

Play therapy is widely used to help children with a range of emotional, behavioral, and social challenges, including:

• Anxiety, fears, and phobias

• Depression and withdrawal

• Behavioral outbursts and defiance

• Family changes such as divorce or separation

• Grief and loss

• Trauma and abuse

• Social difficulties and peer issues

• Adjustment to new environments (e.g., school, moves, blended families)

• Low self-esteem or perfectionism

• Chronic illness or medical procedures

What Is Play Therapy and How Does It Help Children?

Young children often don’t have the words to express how they feel, especially when they are experiencing stress, anxiety, or big life changes. Instead, they "speak" through play. Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate and evidence-based approach to helping children process emotions, build coping skills, and improve behavior, all through the language they know best: play.

How Does Play Therapy Work?

Through the safety and structure of play therapy, children can:

• Make sense of confusing experiences

• Develop language for their feelings

• Learn to regulate their emotions

• Build confidence and self-awareness

• Strengthen problem-solving and social skills

• Develop more secure relationships with caregivers

It’s not “just play,” it’s powerful, purposeful, and grounded in child development science. Over time, children often become more emotionally resilient, flexible in their thinking, and better able to handle life’s challenges.

Why Do Young Children Do Play Therapy?

Children ages 3–12 are still developing the verbal and emotional tools to understand and talk about what’s going on inside. When something feels confusing, scary, or overwhelming, whether it is changes at home, social struggles, or emotional distress, they often show us through behavior rather than words. Play therapy gives children a safe and supportive environment to express themselves in a way that feels natural and non-threatening.

Our Approach

We utilize an attachment-based and interpersonal neurobiological perspective and understand that children express themselves and process their experiences through play. Our therapeutic approach provides a safe, supportive environment for children to explore their emotions, build coping skills, and strengthen connections with caregivers.

What Happens in Play Therapy?

In play therapy sessions, trained child therapists use toys, art materials, games, stories, and imaginative play to help children express what they might not be able to say directly. The therapist observes and engages with the child in a way that builds trust, increases emotional awareness, and helps the child make sense of their world.

Depending on the child’s needs, play therapy may be structured or non-directive. In non-directive play therapy, the child leads the play while the therapist provides a safe, accepting space for exploration. In more structured sessions, the therapist may introduce specific activities to help with emotional regulation, social problem-solving, or trauma processing.

Support Beyond the Playroom

At our practice, we believe that play therapy is most effective when caregivers are involved. We provide regular parent check-ins to share insights, offer guidance, and collaborate on strategies to support your child at home. You don’t have to navigate this alone — we’re here to walk alongside your family every step of the way.

Child Therapy in Los Angeles

Our practice offers child and play therapy in Los Angeles, with offices in Pasadena and Studio City. We work with families from Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Glendale, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, and surrounding communities who are seeking support for anxiety, emotional outbursts, family transitions, grief, social difficulties and other concerns affecting their child’s well-being.

For younger children, therapy often incorporates play because children communicate and process experiences differently from adults. We tailor treatment to each child’s age, needs and developmental level while involving parents and caregivers throughout the process.