Build emotional resilience.

Led by licensed therapist and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Anna White, our play therapy practice invites children three and up to learn new skills, process trauma, and gain control over their emotions and behaviors in a safe, comfortable environment. Unlike talk therapy, which relies heavily on processing problems with parts of the brain that are not yet developed in children, play therapy leverages the parts of the brain responsible for imagination, authentic emotional expression, implicit emotional memories, and non-verbal communication—all of which are fully developed in children. Play therapy provides a platform for deeply meaningful experiences for your child and opportunities for parent-child connection that improve your child’s sense of security and ability to engage with the world. We’ve curated a variety of activities and toys to facilitate healing play, and we actively engage parents in play therapy treatment so that improvements can continue at home and at school.

Play Therapy Services in Bethesda MDPlay therapy can be used to address specific challenges including:

  • Abuse and neglect
  • ADD or ADHD
  • Aggression
  • Anxiety
  • Behavioral difficulties
  • Communication
  • Cultural differences
  • Depression
  • Divorce
  • Family conflict
  • Grief and loss
  • Insecure attachment
  • Low self-esteem
  • School pressures and demands
  • Self-harm
  • Social impairments
  • Stress arising from major life changes (e.g. new house, new school, arrival of a new sibling)
  • Stress arising from medical conditions and chronic illness
  • Stress arising from sibling’s challenges (e.g. sibling behavioral or medical problems)
  • Tantrums
  • Trauma