Play Therapy for Children in Wheat Ridge & Denver
Expert Child Centered Play Therapy That Transforms Young Lives
At Mind, Body, Soulmates PLLC, we understand that children communicate differently than adults. When young children face overwhelming emotions, trauma, or life transitions, they often lack the words to express what they're experiencing. Our specialized play therapy for children provides a safe, natural way for children to process difficult experiences and develop lasting coping strategies.
Our team of licensed mental health professionals has helped countless families navigate challenging times through the therapeutic powers of play. Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, behavioral difficulties, grief, or the effects of traumatic events, we're here to support your entire family's healing journey.
What Is Child Centered Play Therapy?
Play therapy for children is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that recognizes play as children's natural medium for expression and communication. For young children typically ages 3-11, play serves the same function that verbal therapy serves for adults—it's how they naturally process their inner world and make sense of difficult experiences.
During child centered play therapy sessions, children use construction toys, stuffed animals, sand play, art materials, and role play to express feelings they cannot yet verbalize. This valuable tool allows children to approach painful memories and emotions at their own pace, utilizing the therapeutic powers of play to achieve optimal growth without feeling overwhelmed.
Our play therapy approach goes beyond simply providing toys. Our licensed mental health professional creates a carefully designed environment where each child feels safe to explore their emotions through their child's play, building resilience and developing healthy coping strategies for everyday life.
Who Benefits from Play Therapy for Children?
Ideal Candidates for Our Play Therapy Services
Children experiencing:
Trauma and loss - Processing difficult experiences or traumatic events
Behavioral difficulties - Acting out, aggression, withdrawal, or defiance
Anxiety and depression - Overwhelming emotions affecting daily functioning
Life transitions - Family changes, moves, school transitions, or new siblings
Grief and bereavement - Loss of loved ones, pets, or significant relationships
Family stress - Divorce, conflict, or changes in family dynamics
High-functioning families who value mental health and are motivated to create positive change often find our approach particularly beneficial. We frequently work with children of professionals, business owners, and other accomplished adults who recognize the importance of addressing emotional challenges early.
Signs Your Child May Benefit from Play Therapy
Significant changes in behaviors following stressful events
Persistent anxiety, sadness, or withdrawal impacting everyday life
Difficulty expressing emotions or communicating needs
Sleep disturbances, regression, or changes in appetite
Academic or social challenges connected to emotional factors
Ongoing behavioral difficulties that don't respond to typical approaches
Our Comprehensive Play Therapy Approach
What Makes Our Child Centered Play Therapy Different
Family-Centered Care: Unlike practices that work in isolation, we integrate play therapy for children into comprehensive family treatment. Our collaborative approach ensures that improvements your child makes are supported throughout your family system.
Experienced Team: Our licensed mental health professionals bring years of experience and diverse specialties. We understand that children don't exist in isolation—they're part of family systems that influence their emotional well-being.
Evidence-Based Methods: We utilize proven therapeutic modalities including child centered play therapy, art therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, and somatic techniques that help children learn effective coping strategies.
Flexible Service Options: We offer both in-person sessions at our Wheat Ridge location and online therapy options for families needing scheduling flexibility.
Our Play Therapy Process
Free Consultation (15 minutes) We discuss your child's specific challenges and determine if play therapy for children might be beneficial. This conversation helps us understand your family's needs and explain how our approach might help your child achieve optimal growth.
Comprehensive Assessment Our first session involves gathering detailed information about your child's history, current behaviors, and family dynamics. We create a personalized treatment plan designed to address your child's particular needs.
Play Therapy Sessions In our specially designed space where play therapy takes place, your child accesses carefully selected construction toys, stuffed animals, sand play materials, and other toys that facilitate emotional expression. Our play therapist observes and guides the process while following your child's lead in this natural medium.
Parent Collaboration We provide regular updates on progress and offer guidance on supporting your child's emotional development at home. Parent involvement significantly enhances treatment outcomes and helps children feel supported both in and outside therapy sessions.
Family Integration If other family members are receiving therapy through our practice, we coordinate care to ensure consistent goals and messaging, preventing confusion and maximizing therapeutic benefits.
Evidence-Based Results: Why Play Therapy Works
Research consistently demonstrates that children who participate in child centered play therapy experience significant improvements in emotional functioning, behavioral regulation, and overall mental health. Studies show that play therapy intervention is particularly effective for children who have experienced traumatic events, helping them process difficult experiences through the therapeutic powers of play.
Children who complete play therapy work typically develop:
Improved self esteem and confidence in handling difficult situations
Better emotional regulation and ability to express feelings appropriately
Enhanced social skills and relationships with family members and peers
Effective coping strategies for managing stress and anxiety in everyday life
Greater resilience for future challenges and life transitions
The Association for Play Therapy continues to support research showing how this valuable tool helps children achieve optimal growth while building long-term emotional intelligence and resilience.
Integrating Play Therapy with Family Treatment
Our Collaborative Family Model
What sets Mind, Body, Soulmates PLLC apart is our comprehensive approach to family mental health. When your child participates in play therapy for children, we can simultaneously provide:
Individual Therapy for Adults - Addressing parental stress, anxiety, depression, or unresolved trauma that may impact family dynamics
Couples Therapy - Strengthening relationships and improving communication to create a more supportive home environment
Family Therapy - Working with the entire family system to improve relationships and resolve conflicts
Sibling Support - Helping other children in the family understand and adapt to changes
This integrated approach ensures that positive changes from your child's play therapy work are reinforced throughout your family system, creating lasting transformation rather than temporary improvement.
Supporting Parents Through the Process
We recognize that having a child in therapy can bring up complex emotions for adults. Our approach includes significant support for parents, helping you understand child psychology and child development principles that support your child's progress.
We provide education and guidance on how trauma, stress, or life changes might impact your child's behaviors, empowering you to respond more effectively. This isn't about perfect parenting—it's about understanding your child's experience and supporting their healing journey.
Specialized Therapeutic Approaches
Beyond Traditional Play Therapy | Our team utilizes various evidence-based modalities that complement child centered play therapy:
Art Therapy - Some children express themselves more freely through drawing, painting, or sculpting, providing another avenue within children's natural medium for communication
Mindfulness-Based Techniques - Age-appropriate strategies that help children develop emotional regulation and become valuable lifelong coping strategies
Somatic Approaches - Gentle movement and body awareness activities for children who hold trauma physically
Family Play Therapy - Structured activities involving family members to improve communication and strengthen relationships
Trauma-Informed Care
Our approach is specifically designed for children who have experienced traumatic events. We understand that trauma can show up in many ways—from obvious events to subtle experiences that nonetheless impact a child's inner world.
Our trauma-informed play therapy intervention helps children process these experiences safely, building resilience without re-traumatization. Each child feels safe to explore their emotions at their own pace through their child's play.
Online and In-Person Options
Flexible Service Delivery
In-Person Sessions (Wheat Ridge Location) Our specially designed playroom provides the optimal environment for play therapy for children, with full access to construction toys, stuffed animals, sand play materials, and role play opportunities.
Online Play Therapy For families needing scheduling flexibility or preferring remote sessions, we've developed creative approaches for conducting child centered play therapy online. We guide parents in gathering materials and use digital tools that allow for meaningful therapeutic engagement.
Getting Started: Your Child's Path to Healing
Ready to Begin?
If your child is struggling with emotional or behavioral difficulties, remember that seeking support is an investment in their long-term mental health and resilience. The skills and insights children learn through child centered play therapy serve them throughout their lives, helping them navigate future challenges with greater confidence.
Contact us today for your free 15-minute consultation:
Discuss your child's specific situation
Learn how play therapy for children might help
Understand our family-centered approach
Determine if we're the right fit for your family
During our consultation, we'll explore how play therapy might integrate with other therapeutic approaches your family might benefit from, ensuring comprehensive support for lasting positive change.
What to Expect Next
Immediate Support: We typically respond to consultation requests within 24 hours Flexible Scheduling: Both daytime and evening appointments available
Comprehensive Care: Coordination with other family therapy services as needed Ongoing Communication: Regular updates on progress and at-home support strategies
Why Choose Mind, Body, Soulmates PLLC?
Experienced Team: Licensed mental health professionals with specialized training in play therapy for children and trauma treatment
Family-Centered Approach: We treat your child as part of a family system, not in isolation
Evidence-Based Methods: Our approach is grounded in research-proven techniques that create lasting change
Comprehensive Services: One practice that can support your entire family's mental health needs
Collaborative Care: We work together as a team to ensure consistent, coordinated treatment
Flexible Options: Both in-person and online sessions available to meet your family's needs
Take the First Step Today
Every child deserves to feel understood, supported, and hopeful about their future. Through the therapeutic powers of play therapy for children, we help young children develop the coping strategies and resilience they need to thrive.
Ready to explore how child centered play therapy can help your child achieve optimal growth?
Contact Mind, Body, Soulmates PLLC today for your free consultation. We're here to answer your questions and support your family's healing journey through expert, compassionate play therapy for children.
Serving families in Wheat Ridge, Denver, and throughout Colorado with both in-person and online play therapy services.