SERVICES

Play Therapy

Terris Hagan

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.”

For children, play is a natural way to communicate, process experiences, and make sense of the world around them. Play therapy uses that natural language of childhood to support emotional expression, coping, problem-solving, and connection in a developmentally appropriate way.

Play therapy is most commonly used with children ages 3–12, though play-based and creative approaches may be adapted based on each child’s developmental needs.

At Roots to Stillness Counseling, Terris Hagan, LPC, RPT™, CPCS specializes in play therapy and is a Registered Play Therapist™. Julia Conley, MFT, also incorporates play-based and expressive arts interventions into her work with children.

Play therapy helps children:

  • Become more responsible for behaviors and develop more successful strategies.
  • Develop new and creative solutions to problems.
  • Develop respect and acceptance of self and others.
  • Learn to experience and express emotion.
  • Cultivate empathy and respect for the thoughts and feelings of others.
  • Learn new social skills and relational skills with family.
  • Develop self-efficacy and greater confidence in their abilities.
Terris Hagan

Caregiver Connection

Caregiver involvement is an important part of therapy with children. We offer dedicated parent/caregiver consultation time to ask questions, share what you’re noticing at home, and better understand how you can support your child outside of the therapy room.

These conversations also give us an opportunity to share themes or observations from therapy when appropriate, collaborate around your child’s needs, and support consistency between the therapy room and home.

Terris is also a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator (CPDPE), bringing Positive Discipline principles and practical tools into parent/caregiver consultations.