Play Therapy for Kids in San Antonio, TX
Behavioral therapy for kids provides children ages 3–12 with a safe, supportive space to explore big emotions, navigate life changes, and address behavioral challenges using the language they understand best—play. We Serve families in San Antonio, New Braunfels, Schertz, and surrounding communities in Texas.
Understanding Play Therapy
Child-centered play therapy is a form of psychotherapy that provides a safe way for children to express their emotions. For many young children, especially those who have experienced trauma, expressing themselves can be difficult. This is because they don’t know how to articulate how they truly feel. This can lead to social withdrawal, behavior problems, and mental health issues.
However, with the help of registered play therapists, they can learn to communicate more effectively. They can also learn how to better regulate their emotions, resolve conflicts, and develop better coping mechanisms for difficult emotions.
In a playroom, toys such as stuffed animals, games, and role-playing exercises can all help to provide a way for children to express themselves. They can learn how to describe their emotions in a way that they cannot yet do with words. Throughout this process, they can also learn how to overcome challenges, problem solve, and gain greater confidence.
The powers of play are incredible. Play therapy for kids can act as a form of family therapy to help improve their relationships with family members in a drastic way. This type of therapy can change your child’s life and help them to thrive as the best version of themselves. To learn more about therapeutic play and how your child may benefit from it, reach out to our team at Mind Works. We can answer any questions you have about this therapy and the other services we offer.
Start Your Child’s Healing Journey in 3 Easy Steps
You can start your child’s healing journey in just three easy steps starting today. First, be sure to reach out to our team. We can answer any questions you may have about our services and can ensure you know what to expect. After you submit your intake forms, your child will be able to move forward with therapy sessions right away.
1. Get in Touch
Get started with Mind Works by filling out our simple contact form online or giving us a call.
2. Complete Intake Process
Submit all required paperwork so we can better understand your child’s history and needs.
3. Begin Treatment
Meet your child’s provider to establish a treatment plan and begin play therapy sessions.
Conditions Treated With Play Therapy
Play therapy is one of the most versatile and effective tools for helping children navigate a wide range of emotional, behavioral, and developmental challenges. At Mind Works, our therapists have deep experience supporting children and teens dealing with conditions including:
- Separation anxiety
- Behavioral challenges in toddlers
- Learning disabilities
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Autism
- Anxiety disorders
- Unresolved trauma
- Depression
- Anger
- Emotional dysregulation
- Grief
- Low self-esteem
- Those struggling with life transitions
Choose the best entry point for your child’s care journey:
Assessment
(5 Step Process)
Our psychologists and psychometricians work with your family to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
We’ll begin by asking you questions about your child, what potential behavioral problems they may have, and what you believe the goals for their treatment should be. We will also provide a questionnaire and other intake documents.
We offer developmental, educational, and psychological tests to better understand your child’s needs.
A psychometrist and psychologist will analyze the results, providing a summary of any findings and diagnoses.
We’ll provide you with a list of recommendations for your child’s care, which can include therapy, medication, and/or medical referrals.
We’ll discuss your child’s results and options for moving forward. Once we’ve finalized the plan, we’ll quickly transition your child to the next steps.
Therapy
(6 Step Process)
We provide evidence-based play and talk therapy to help children and teens heal, grow, and thrive.
We’ll take time to learn your concerns and your child’s needs. Together, we’ll set treatment goals and expectations.
These first weeks of therapy are foundational for getting to know one another and building trust with you and your child.
We call this the “Working Stage” of the process. At this point, it’s common to see resistance and an increase in poor behavior.
During the “Growing Stage,” children start to develop coping skills as they figure out healthier ways to manage behavior, express emotions, and heal.
Children are encouraged to practice their new coping mechanisms. During this stage, they are often better self-regulated and more resilient.
As your child reaches new heights of independence, the time comes to celebrate their readiness to continue this journey with their newfound skills!
Medication Management
(4 Step Process)
We offer medication management services to help reduce problematic symptoms and improve treatment outcomes.
We’ll gather a detailed history of your child’s mental health concerns and discuss if medication management is right for your child.
A medication management provider will meet with you and your child and collaborate to develop a comprehensive medication treatment plan.
We will hold periodic check-ins to evaluate the effectiveness of your child’s medication regimen and make adjustments as needed to promote their optimal well-being.
Once your child shows consistent improvement and stabilization, we will gradually shift our focus to helping reduce medication dependence and emphasizing other non-pharmacological interventions.
We’ll discuss your child’s results and options for moving forward. Once we’ve finalized the plan, we’ll quickly transition your child to the next steps.
Begin Your Child’s Success Story With Child Counseling at Mind Works
Ready to get started or have more questions for our team before moving forward? Give us a call or fill out a simple form online to start the journey toward your child’s thriving future.
Determining If Your Child Will Benefit From Play Therapy
You can determine if play therapy is the right choice for your child’s needs by considering their behaviors and emotional challenges. It is common for children to struggle to articulate their thoughts and feelings. However, if your child is struggling with intense emotions like fear, anger, or grief, they may benefit from help from mental health professionals. Play therapy for children can provide a way for kids to communicate in a way that is appropriate for their age.
Another factor to consider is whether or not the child is struggling with behavioral problems at school or at home. For example, this could include tantrums, aggression, or emotional meltdowns. This may also include trouble with authority, trouble paying attention, or difficulty getting along with others.
You should also consider whether or not your child is showing signs of anxiety, social withdrawal, or low self-esteem. For example, maybe they frequently complain about headaches or stomachaches. Or maybe they express fear over going to school. While they may have trouble communicating these issues, play therapy can help to address them.
Finally, if your child has experienced trauma or is going through a difficult transition in life, play therapy may be something that benefits them.
It allows children to work through different mental and emotional problems and develop important life skills. Play therapy can encourage social growth by helping them to learn how to express themselves and communicate more effectively. Help your child harness the power of play by incorporating this powerful form of therapy into their lives.
Our Play Therapy Team: Credentialed, Experienced, and Child-Centered
Not all therapists who work with children are trained in play therapy. At Mind Works, our clinical team includes Registered Play Therapists (RPTs) and play therapy-trained clinicians who have completed specialized education, supervised hours, and ongoing training in child-centered therapeutic approaches.
What Is a Registered Play Therapist?
A Registered Play Therapist (RPT) is a licensed mental health professional who has received advanced, specialized training in play therapy. To earn this credential, therapists must complete:
- A master’s or doctoral degree in a mental health field
- Extensive supervised clinical experience
- Specialized play therapy coursework and training hours
- Ongoing continuing education in child-centered therapeutic methods
The RPT credential is awarded by the Association for Play Therapy (APT) — the national organization that sets the standard for play therapy training and ethics.
The Benefits of Play Therapy for Home, School, and Social Success
Enhancing Emotional Communication
Many young children don’t yet have the vocabulary or articulatory abilities to express what they may be struggling with. Play therapy can provide a safe environment where they can express themselves in a healthy way that is comfortable for them.
Encouraging Creative Problem-Solving
Play therapy can help your child expand their imagination. This can increase their ability to problem solve and think their way through challenges in ways they never have before.
Building Interpersonal and Social Skills
Through play therapy, children can learn many valuable skills that can help them as they socialize with others. This can include everything from empathy to conflict resolution and problem-solving. In turn, this can promote better relationships with peers and family members.
Enhancing Family Connections
For many parents, enhancing their bond with their child is one of their top priorities when considering the help of a mental health professional. Play therapy can help to accomplish this goal by increasing a sense of understanding between a child and their family. It can also help to strengthen communication and reduce conflict.
Behavioral Therapy Through Play
Play therapy can help to get to the root cause of what might be causing a child’s behavioral problems. For example, this could be an undiagnosed mental health problem, a disruptive life event, trouble at home, or unresolved trauma. After identifying this root cause, parents and a mental health professional can then help the child work through this challenge.
Developing Healthy Coping Strategies
Just like adults, children can experience some big, overwhelming emotions. However, they might not always know how to deal with these emotions in a productive way. Play therapy can help the child learn healthy coping mechanisms to handle big feelings. This can increase their confidence and their ability to self-regulate.
Begin Your Child’s Success Story
Ready to get started or have more questions for our team before moving forward? Give us a call or fill out a simple form online to start the journey toward your child’s thriving future.
Launch Your Child’s Healing Journey in Three Simple Steps
1. Get in Touch
Get started with Mind Works by filling out our simple contact form online or giving us a call.
2. Complete Intake Process
Submit all required paperwork so we can better understand your child’s history and needs.
3. Begin Treatment
Meet your child’s provider to establish a treatment plan and begin play therapy sessions.
How Play Therapy Helps Your Child Thrive at Home, School, and Play
Play therapy is one of the most utilized methods used for helping children ages 3-12 navigate common concerns related to behavioral health. This treatment method takes your child through a powerful journey of discovery and healing, where they can use the universal language of play to explore their feelings, solve problems, and express themselves. Here are several of the key benefits of working with a play therapist.
Improve Emotional Expression
Children struggle to express their feelings and experiences through words. Play therapy allows children to express themselves in way that feels safer and more organic to them than traditional talk therapy.
Develop Social Skills
Play is the key way children learn to effectively interact with their peers. Through play therapy, children can practice how they communicate, share, negotiate, and resolve conflicts, enhancing their social abilities.
Target Problematic Behaviors
There are many factors that contribute to behavioral problems in children. A play therapist can aim to better understand these contributors and help your child to better manage their actions.
Fosters Problem-Solving
Play therapy encourages your child to think creatively, use imaginative thinking, and solve problems. This process translates into the real world, allowing your child to face challenges skillfully and confidently.
Strengthens Family Relationships
As a parent, it can be frustrating to try and address the same issues over and over. A play therapist helps you to focus on techniques that foster mutual respect, encourage understanding, and fortify your bond.
Teaches Coping Mechanisms
Children need to learn how to respond when faced with disappointment, fear, anger, and sadness. Your child’s play therapist will teach them how to accept and work through negative emotions in healthy ways.
Why Choose Mind Works? San Antonio's Trusted Pediatric Play Therapy Practice.
Expert Care for Children and Teens
At Mind Works, we believe that the one-size-fits-all approach to mental health care is never an effective method. We understand that each child’s needs and situation are unique and that everyone heals in different ways. Because of this, we offer personalized, expert care that is tailored to your child’s specific needs and goals. Our highly experienced clinicians are prepared to help your child thrive and become the best version of themselves.
Full Spectrum of Child Mental Health Services
At Mind Works, we offer a wide variety of services all under one roof. This allows our team to collaborate with one another and with you as we work towards accomplishing the goals you have for your child. No matter what your child’s unique needs may be, our team can provide guidance and support every step of the way.
Team-Based, Personalized Care
All of our team works together to provide the best quality and most personalized care possible for your child. From psychologists to therapists and the rest of our support staff, we will collaborate to ensure each aspect of your child’s needs is met. This includes prioritizing their mental, emotional, and behavioral needs, which our staff is able to do all under one roof.
Proven, Evidence-Based Research Treatments
We use evidence-based therapies to help ensure the best progress for your child. In addition to play therapy, this includes a variety of evidence-based treatments such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). From there, our team can help guide your child towards healthier and more positive patterns.
Help Your Child Soar to New Heights
If you’re ready to take the next step, schedule a consultation today through the secure form on our website or by giving us a call.
Frequently Asked Questions About Play Therapy for Kids:
Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate form of counseling that helps children express emotions, process experiences, and work through challenges using play.
Instead of relying on conversation alone, therapists use toys, art, storytelling, and other forms of play time to help children communicate thoughts and feelings they may not yet have the words to explain.
Many play therapy approaches are based on the work of Garry Landreth, a leading researcher and author in child-centered play therapy. Landreth’s model emphasizes non-directive play, where the therapist creates a safe, accepting environment and allows the child to lead the play. This approach gives children the freedom to explore their inner world, build confidence, and develop emotional awareness at their own pace.
Through this process, children often discover new ways to express feelings, solve problems, and respond to difficult situations. Over time, play therapy can help improve emotional regulation, strengthen relationships, and support healthier behaviors both at home and at school.
Play therapy sessions typically are 50-60 minutes in length. Sessions are held on a weekly basis for a few months. Working with your play therapist can help you determine the frequency and duration of sessions. Research suggests it takes about an average of 20 sessions for children to resolve problems of the typical child who is referred for treatment.
The first session is the intake session, which is designed for parents only. Here you will meet your child’s therapist to discuss and define the counseling relationship. Your therapist will gather information about your child’s biological, psychological, and social history and how this is impacting your current situation. You and your therapist will also discuss treatment goals moving forward and begin setting up appointments for your child.
Our goal is to help you feel supported and understood. At Mind Works, we strive to include parents as partners in the process. We will set up a feedback session over the next 5-8 weeks where you and your therapist can discuss progress, continued treatment goals, while providing parental guidance and support.
Play therapy, though it can benefit children of many different ages, is often considered to be most effective between the ages of 3 and 12 years old. This is because children of this age are still developing and learning about the world – especially young children, who are still learning to understand and communicate their emotions. Play therapy can be especially beneficial to young children because they can learn skills they can utilize later in life.
One of the most critical roles of a registered pediatric play therapist is to provide a safe and supportive environment where the child feels comfortable expressing themselves. They will then observe the child’s types of play and will use that information to learn more about the child’s emotions, thoughts, and challenges. A play therapist will help the child work through their emotions, especially difficult ones like anger, shame, fear, and anxiety.
The play therapist will also help the child to develop healthier coping skills for these difficult emotions. This can promote better problem-solving skills, emotional regulation, and communication. Over time, this can improve relationships, encourage greater self-esteem, and lead to many other benefits.
At Mind Works, family members play an active role in the therapeutic process of play therapy. The goal is to continue play therapy work at home. Play therapy can strengthen the bond between caregivers and the child. It can also play a critical role in improving communication between them.
When you bring your child to Mind Works, you’re not working with a general counselor who occasionally uses play activities. You’re working with specialists who have chosen to pursue advanced training in the specific way children heal — through play. That distinction makes a difference in outcomes.
Our pediatric therapists bring together clinical expertise and a deep understanding of child development to create a therapeutic environment where your child can feel safe, seen, and supported.
Success Stories
“Highly recommend Mind Works. I am a clinician in Illinois and needed to find a clinic in Texas that could provide services to my client that was moving. This is no easy feat to do across the United States. Mind Works was fabulous to work with from the very beginning. Coordination of care was 5 stars and my “previous” client is very happy with their new counselor. Thank you very much for going above and beyond during this difficult time so many other counseling offices are facing. I appreciate all the help and coordination you offered my client!”
“I have known the owners for over 8 years and have taken a family member to Mind Works. Therefore, I can speak of them both personally and professionally. There truly is no better place for this service, especially for children and young adults. On the personal level, I know how much they truly care about everyone they meet. On a professional level, the entire staff is a reflection of the dedication to helping others and competence that gets results that the owners exude. During the incredibly trying time of this pandemic and the fear and anxiety it has caused many people, we are incredibly blessed to have Mind Works available to support.”
“The front desk staff is kind and courteous and helped me find the right therapist for my child. When I met my therapist she was kind and explained the process to me. I love that she included me in the play therapy process and helped me understand how to help my child. Thankful for the therapists at Mind Works!”
“Mindworks is the leader in child centered play therapy and collaborative care in San Antonio and surrounding areas. Their focus is solely on the mental health of children and teenagers. Each clinician at all four locations is seasoned, knowledgeable, experienced, and capable. Parents trust that their child is going to get the treatment and services they need and deserve.
I thoroughly enjoyed working as a clinician at Mindworks. The support and leadership is consistent and outstanding. Unlike any other job that I have had, leadership and clinicians work together to cultivate an awesome work environment.”
Help Your Child Soar to New Heights
Kids behavioral play therapy can help transform your child’s life in many incredible ways. From building self-esteem to strengthening their communication skills, this unique type of therapy can help them thrive to the best of their ability. To learn more, give our team at Mind Works a call today at (210) 366-3700.