• Ask Dr. Kim
  • Seminars & Workshops
  • Retail Therapy
  • Parent Coaching + Therapeutic Services
  • Media + Videos

The Parentologist

Dr. Kim

  • The Parentologist
  • About
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Webinars
  • Collaborations
  • Travel
  • Contact

How To Know When To Take Your Child To Therapy and When To See a Play Therapist

As a licensed child mental health therapist who has been in practice for over a decade and a professor who has been teaching Play Therapy and Parent Child Therapy at the university level for over 8 years, parents have asked me many questions over the years about when to send their child to therapy and what kind of therapy they should have. To be honest, before I received my Doctorate in Psychology, I didn’t know there were different types of therapy modalities. I thought you just called a professional and talked to them. I didn’t realize all of the intricacies of therapy and I know now that not all therapists are created equal. You don’t know until you know, right? And as a parent, I can understand the worry and confusion about how and when to help your child and wanting to make the best choice when they might need therapeutic support.

 

 

 

 

Sometimes it takes a while to find the right fit, especially for a child. Not only does a child have to feel safe, but they have to mesh with personality and even the type of therapy that is given to them to create growth and change. So I am here now to answer your questions about childhood therapy and educate you more about what I do as a play therapist. Then, I hope it can help guide you in making the best decision possible for your child if they need to see a therapist.

 

 

When Should I Take My Child To Therapy?

 

This is the million dollar question! Here is my recommendation, if you believe your child is going through any distress and or if their daily functioning is suffering, it’s time to call a professional. In my experience, parents often wait too long to seek help due to one reason or another (usually the unknown, finances, lack of resources, and the stigma) and I advocate for parents to be more proactive in getting their child support preventatively. The sooner you get help, the better. And if your mom gut is telling you something is wrong, listen to it, and take action.

 

Just because your child goes to therapy, doesn’t mean something is wrong with them. Sometimes a child goes through a severe trauma and needs a tremendous amount of support due to their emotional, mental, and behavioral symptoms, but sometimes, parents need some extra tools and to a child needs to learn how to cope with their hyperactivity, loss of a loved one, a divorced home, or any other issue that might be plaguing them. I see children who have specific diagnosis like depression, anxiety, mood disorders, eating disorders, ADHD, and Autism, but I also see children who have some minor separation anxiety about starting a new school or moving to a new neighborhood or are having a difficult time adjusting to a new sibling in the home.

 

 

What is Play Therapy?

 

Play is the universal language of children and has many benefits. In fact, therapeutic play techniques and interventions are extremely reputable and effective, but play therapy remains an underrated and unknown behavioral modification modality. Research has shown how play can help children heal and grow socially, emotionally, behaviorally, and mentally as well as help with anxiety, depression, behavior modification, divorce, trauma, grief and loss, and so much more. Play is used for a multitude of reasons when traditional talk therapy isn’t a good fit for a child.

 

“Toys are like the child’s words and play is the child’s language” – Gary Landreth, 2002, Play Therapist 

 

Play therapists utilize play to help a child *“explore, express, and safely experience the difficulties they are working through.” Play therapy is about building a safe, trusting relationship where a child is honored and respected for where they are at and where they want and need to go. Play therapy doesn’t always mean “fun” and children work hard during sessions to move through their emotional pain and or behavioral challenges. I have helped thousands of families, parents, and children using therapeutic play interventions, strategies, and techniques and have taught play therapy at the university level for almost a decade, and it really works!

 

 

What Should a Parent Expect From a Play Therapy Session?

 

I will speak for myself since every therapist does things a little differently and it may even depend if a therapist is child centered or not. After the initial session, where I do my intake and get to know the parent and the child, I like to see my clients every week for about 3 months or so. I have found, that I am able to teach effective coping skills and therapeutic interventions and techniques to the parent and the child in this amount of time. If the parent or child need more support after the 3 month mark, we can go to every other week or once a month or an as needed basis.

 

 

 

 

I am a systemic therapist, which means that I like to have more than just the child in the therapy room. Family dynamics are complex and often need to be analyzed and supported from different angles. And usually it’s not the just the child that needs therapy or support. So I break my sessions in half, especially since most children I see are little and have a low attention span anyway. I see the child for about 20-30 minutes depending on age, developmental, and cognitive level and then talk with the parents for about 20-30 minutes. During my time with the child, I will use various play tools like a sand tray, puppets, games, etc depending on what the child needs. I typically let the child take the lead on what play they need, while offering a safe, trusting, non-judgmental, and supportive environment. Sometimes I will have the parent join the session if I am trying to teach something or I want to observe a particular behavior. But normally, the parent will wait in the other room while I see the child alone. This is where the most change and healing are going to be made.

 

 

Where Can I Find a Play Therapist?

 

I suggest going to the Association for Play Therapy and finding a therapist through their directory. You can also visit PsychologyToday and find a therapist in your area by filtering through various preferences.

 


 

*Quote taken from Play More and Prosper

«
»

Anxiety, Attachment, Awareness and Prevention, Behavior, Children, Depression, Education, Family, Learning, Play 0

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *



Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children.

Follow Along!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

Get the Inside Scoop

TODAY.com Parenting Team Parenting Contributor

About Dr. Kim

Hello! I am Dr. Kim and I am The Parentologist! I am first and foremost a wife and a mom. I am also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Registered Play Therapist. I hope through my professional and personal experience we can collaborate with each other on how to better ourselves and our relationships with our families and our children. Read More…

My Instagram

🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had t 🇺🇸 What a monumental day in history we had today! 🇺🇸

As soon as we woke up I started educating my children, specifically my daughter, on what the inauguration meant and why today was such a special day in history. We both were glued to the television as we watched @kamalaharris be sworn in as the first Black South Asian woman Vice President and @joebiden be sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. We also were powerfully moved hearing @amandascgorman - the youngest inaugural poet in history recite “The Hill We Climb.” 

My daughter was so excited to participate and recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the rest of the county and she was so proud to see and be a part of history in the making. I haven’t been to Washington D.C. in about 8 years but I promised I would take her one day when the pandemic is over. 

In the meantime, I have a fun fact for you! Did you know that President Joe Biden and I both graduated from the same university? Yep! We both went to @syracuseu 🍊 And in fact, @joebiden is the first @syracuseu alumnus to become President of the United States! 

📸: @chrissywphoto #inauguration #inagurationday #inaguration2021 #joebiden #kamalaharris #presidentbiden #syracuseuniversity #syracuse #syracuseu #historyismade #madamvicepresident #mommyandme #46thpresident #sandiego #sandiegoblogger #momblogger #parentingblogger #motherhood
This time of year is notorious for dry air, allerg This time of year is notorious for dry air, allergies, and sinus trouble. #ad 

And since I work from home, it can get quite noisy and distracting with my husband and two children here, so sometimes I get my best work done in the comfort of my own bed. And the best part is that I can have my new @crane_usa “4 in 1” cool mist humidifier on at all times with essential oils to help with overall wellness and since it comes with a sound machine I can block out the other noises in the house! 

And at night, it helps my sinuses as I sleep, especially when the dry air of the heater is on, and it has a nightlight so my kids can see where they are going in the middle of the night when they inevitably need water or a hug! 

This is our 6th #cranehumidifier style and it’s my favorite one yet! Check out my stories for a closer look! 👀 #happyhealthyhumidity 

#humidifier #coldandflu #humidifiers #peaceandquiet #workingfromhome #workingmom #working #coldandfluseason #coldandflurelief #winter #winterstyle #wintertime #wintervibes #winter2021 #wahm #wahmlife #wahmlifestyle #workfromhomemom #workfromhomelife #workfromhome #workathomemom #workathome #workathomelife #newmom #babyshowergift #sinusrelief
{New Blog Post} “How to Teach Children Gratitude {New Blog Post} “How to Teach Children Gratitude” 🌱✨🌸

Throwing it back to one of the first mommy and me photos I ever posted on my feed because I’ve been teaching my daughter about gratitude since she was this little, possibly even younger (she is two here for reference)! 

Gratitude is such an important virtue and must have trait to build a child’s character. It also shows therapeutic benefits when you show gratitude to others, so why wouldn’t you want to make it a priority to teach and instill in your children? 

In this blog, I have suggestions for how to teach children gratitude broken down by ages and stages from infancy to teenage years, while also including some conversation prompts, and links to my favorite gratitude journals for busy families that we use here at home! 

Find the direct link to read in my bio and stories! I also published similar articles on @todayparents and @redtricycle if you follow me there! #drkimblog
DOUBLE TAP if you agree!! 🙋🏼‍♀️ I am DOUBLE TAP if you agree!! 🙋🏼‍♀️

I am that mom who wants to do it all and when I get overwhelmed or start suffering from a major case of burnout, I feel guilty if I take a break instead of giving my body and mind permission to slow down or even stop. 

As moms we often feel guilty if we take a break or believe we are perceived as weak if we ask for help. I have learned that the more I ask for help and the more time I take for myself, the better I am for my children. 

Guilt is an emotional response to something you perceived you did wrong, but when you experience unnecessary guilt, it’s counterproductive to healing and helping you with what you need most. So give it a try and let me know how you are going to take a break and not feel guilty about it this week below in the comments! ⤵️ #drkimparentingtips #theparentologist #drkimparentingadvice
DOUBLE TAP if you used to love Hello Kitty when yo DOUBLE TAP if you used to love Hello Kitty when you were little - and still do! 🙋🏼‍♀️🐱#ad

I am so excited to have all of these new items from the @erincondren Hello Kitty collection that launched today to keep work fun, playful, and reminiscent of childhood - something all adults need a little more of, am I right? 

The collection is all about organization, kindness, and friendship. My favorite piece of the collection is the “Daily Kindness and Joy Journal” that boldly says BE KIND, BE NICE, REPEAT on the front cover but I am also pretty obsessed with the Hello Kitty x Erin Condren Pencil Case and Vegan Leather Padfolio! 

Swipe to see my business attire on top and activewear on the bottom work style! 😉 And head to my stories to see it all up close and for your convenience I have everything linked for you http://liketk.it/35XZC and make sure to follow me at THEPARENTOLOGIST @liketoknow.it  for more of my favorites!!! #liketkit #erincondren
{New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and {New Blog Post} “Sensory Play, Pretend Play, and Role Play Ideas for Children with Autism” 🧩 🧸 🚂 ⚽️ 
.
.
For the last 3 years I have spent my career therapeutically helping families and children of all ages on the Autism Spectrum. Play has been a fundamental way for many of my clients to communicate if they are non-verbal. And some of my clients have had to be taught how to play with a toy or another person. The play ideas listed on the blog can be used with children with or without special needs. Play is a universal way a child can explore their world in a way that makes sense to them and cultivate imagination, creativity, and fun! As a Registered Play Therapist, I love the work I do and couldn’t be prouder of the progress my clients have made with play over the years! #drkimblog
.
.
.
.
#autism #autismmom #autismfamily #autismspectrum #autismcommunity #autismparent #autismlife #autismparents #autismparenting #autistickids #autisticchildren #autistictoddler #autismresources #playtherapy #playtherapist #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #activitiesforkids #activitiesfortoddlers #activitiesforchildren #sensoryplay #sensoryplayideas #sensoryprocessingdisorder #sensoryactivities #momswhoblog #ontheblog #newblogpost #parentingblogger #momblogger
{New Blog Post} ✨🌱🧴“Ways to Take Control {New Blog Post} ✨🌱🧴“Ways to Take Control of Your Eczema” #ad 
.
.
These winter months have been so dry and my eczema has been flaring up. Can anyone relate? For decades I have used a variety of treatment options from over-the-counter ointments and lotions to doctor prescribed steroid medication. In today’s blog, I am partnering with @mediqcme to share more of my story and struggles with atopic dermatitis as well as some new treatment options! If you or a loved one suffer from eczema or atopic dermatitis it’s a must read! 
.
.
Plus there is a survey at the end of the blog you can fill out and opt in to be entered to win 1 of 10 VISA gift cards! 🙌🏻 Link in bio and in stories! #itchyskinhelp #drkimblog
.
.
.
.
#eczema #eczemarelief #eczemahealing #eczematreatment #eczemaproblems #eczemawarrior #atopicdermatitis #itchyskin #itchyskinrelief #atopicskin #atopicdermatitistreatment #atopicdermatitismanagement #eczemamanagement #winterskincare #winterskin #winterskincareroutine #winterskincaretips #newblogpost #momswhoblog #ontheblog #wellnessblogger #wellnesstips #wellnessexpert
{New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get {New Blog Post} 🌿 “How to Utilize Play to Get Your Kids to Do What You Want” 
.
.
As a Registered Play Therapist, play is the foundation to the way I help children conceptualize and conquer the world. Play is second nature to children and the way they respond to many of life’s obstacles. Sometimes as parents, it is easy to get into a power match with your children, especially when you want your children to comply with a request and they won’t budge. When this happens, we need to change the way our adult mind thinks and switch it to the way a child thinks. Instead of giving them a punitive consequence, try these play recommendations that can be used with children as young as toddlerhood all the way to adolescents! #drkimblog 
.
.
.
.
#playtherapy #playtherapist #therapistsofinstagram #playoutsidethebox #learningthruplay #playbasedlearning #learningthroughplay #learningisfun #parenting #parentingtips #parenting101 #parentingteens #parentingtweens #parentingtoddlers #parentingadvice #parentingexpert #parentingblogger #parentingblog #newblogpost #ontheblog #momswhoblog #parenthood #toddlerproblems #toddlermom #behaviortherapist #behaviortherapy #positiveparentingsolutions #positiveparentingtips #positiveparenting
{New Blog Post} “Tips on How To Set Goals Effect {New Blog Post} “Tips on How To Set Goals Effectively in 2021” ✨ 
.
.
It’s is usually around this time that I start thinking of the goals I want to accomplish for the year. And whether you believe in making resolutions, affirmations, or goals, it is time to be proactive!! On the blog, I outlined an organizational system I use year after year to help me accomplish my goals. And I hope they work for you!! 
.
.
What are some of your goals you want to accomplish this year? 
.
.
.
.
#2021 #2021goals #goals #goalsetting #goalgetter #goalsettingtips #goalsetter #goalsetting2021 #goalcrusher #momhustle #snowday #snowman #newgoals #newgoals2021 #mommyandme #letthembelittle #letthembekids #letthemplay #playoutside #playoutdoors #playoutsidethebox #familyday #familyfun #familysnowday
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Get the Inside Scoop

Copyright © 2025 · Darling theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2025 · Darling Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in