Play Therapy for Children
Big feelings.
Small humans.
We can help.
Children don’t always have the words for what’s hard.
Play therapy meets them where they are. It’s gentle, effective, and designed specifically for how kids actually think and feel. Play is their language and toys are their words.
It may look like simple playtime. But for a child, it can be one of the most meaningful and healing experiences they have.
Play therapy is available for children ages 3 and up, in person in Issaquah, WA.
Your child doesn’t have to be in crisis for play therapy to help.
Play therapy can be a good fit for children who are
- Experiencing anxiety, worry, or fearfulness that gets in the way of daily life
- Showing signs of sadness, withdrawal, or low self-esteem
- Navigating big family changes like divorce, a move, a new sibling, or loss
- Struggling with friendships, school, or behavioral challenges
- Processing trauma, grief, or difficult experiences
- Expressing big emotions through aggression, meltdowns, or regression like bedwetting or clinginess
You know your child better than anyone. If something feels off, that’s reason enough to reach out.
Watching your child struggle is one of the hardest things to do.
You don’t have to know what’s wrong or have tried everything else first.
Simply reaching out is a powerful first step. We’d love to support you and your child.
Children don’t need words to do big work.
In play therapy, the child leads. The therapist provides a safe, supportive environment stocked with toys, art materials, sand trays, and games, and then follows the child’s direction.
Rather than asking questions or directing the session, the play therapist observes and gently engages with what unfolds. Every choice, story, and pattern that emerges in play offers a window into how a child sees themselves and their world.
Through this process, children can:
- Build emotional resilience and learn to identify and manage feelings
- Develop problem-solving skills in a safe, contained environment
- Gain confidence and a stronger sense of self
- Heal from trauma, grief, or loss in a non-threatening way
- Improve relationships at home, at school, and with peers
Read more about how play therapy helps children heal and grow.
Meet Your Child’s Play Therapist
Ann Plana, LMHCA
Thursday appointments available, in-person, in Issaquah, WA
Ann is a psychodynamic therapist who has a special love for working with children. She practices child-centered play therapy, which means the child leads the session and Ann follows, creating a space where children feel genuinely safe to explore, express, and heal. Ann sees children ages 3 and up for in-person play therapy in Issaquah, WA. Ann also offers therapy for parents and caregivers navigating the emotional weight of family life.
