Children heal through play therapy.
Young children don’t always have the words to describe how they feel — but through play, they can express emotions, process experiences, and begin to heal. Our licensed child therapists use play therapy to help children ages 3–12 build emotional strength and resilience.
Play is the language of children.
Play therapy is a structured, evidence-based approach to child counseling that uses toys, art, games, and creative expression as the medium for communication and healing. The NIMH recognizes play-based interventions as effective for children experiencing anxiety, trauma, grief, and behavioral difficulties.
Children we support
- Children experiencing anxiety, worry, or separation fears
- Kids who have witnessed or experienced trauma
- Children going through divorce, loss, or family change
- Children with behavioral challenges at home or school
- Kids with social difficulties or difficulty making friends
- Children on the autism spectrum needing emotional support
Related: Family therapy · After-school social skills group
What a play therapy session looks like
Each play therapy session runs approximately 45 minutes in a specially equipped playroom stocked with sand trays, art materials, puppets, dollhouses, and therapeutic games. The space is designed to invite expression, not direct it. Our child therapists use both non-directive approaches — following the child’s lead and reflecting their play themes — and directive approaches where the therapist introduces specific activities to address a particular concern, depending on what the child needs at any given stage of treatment.
Parents are not in the room during the child’s session. This is intentional — children communicate and process differently when they feel the space is fully theirs. However, parent involvement is an essential part of treatment. We schedule separate parent check-in meetings (typically every 4–6 sessions) where we update you on themes we are seeing in the child’s play, coach you on strategies to support your child at home, and answer your questions. These are private conversations without the child present.
For more on play therapy’s evidence base, the NIMH child and adolescent mental health resources provide a helpful overview of evidence-based approaches for children.
Play therapy — your questions answered
How is play therapy different from just letting kids play?
The play in play therapy is purposeful and clinician-guided. A trained play therapist observes the content, themes, and patterns in a child’s play to understand their emotional world — then uses that information therapeutically. The therapist may reflect what they observe (“That toy seems really scared right now”), offer choices that allow the child to explore different outcomes, or introduce structured activities that address a specific challenge. It is play with clinical intention, not free time.
How many sessions will my child need?
A common range for play therapy is 12–20 sessions, though some children make significant gains in fewer sessions and others benefit from longer-term support. The number depends on the nature and severity of the presenting concern, the child’s response to the therapeutic relationship, and what is happening at home and school. Your therapist will give you an honest estimate after the first few sessions and update that estimate as treatment progresses.
Will I be in the room with my child?
Generally, no — and this is by design. Most children open up more freely when parents are not present, and the parent-child relationship can sometimes affect what the child is willing to express. Some very young children (ages 3–4) may benefit from a parent being present for the first session or two during the adjustment period, and for certain treatment models (like Parent-Child Interaction Therapy), the parent’s presence in session is part of the treatment. Your therapist will discuss the best approach for your child’s specific situation during the intake.
What is TF-CBT and when would you use it instead of play therapy?
TF-CBT — Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy — is a structured, evidence-based protocol specifically designed for children who have experienced trauma. It involves both the child and the parent or caregiver, and it is more directive than non-directive play therapy. TF-CBT is often the treatment of choice for children with a clear trauma history who are old enough to engage in structured cognitive work (generally ages 6 and older). Non-directive play therapy is often used with younger children, children who need a longer trust-building phase before they can engage in structured work, or children whose presenting concerns are less specifically trauma-focused. Many children benefit from both approaches at different phases of treatment. Your therapist will discuss the most appropriate approach after the initial assessment.
My child seems fine at home but is struggling at school. Should we still seek therapy?
Yes — children who present differently at home versus school are not necessarily “fine.” Many children manage to hold things together in one environment while struggling significantly in another. School is a highly demanding social and academic environment that amplifies anxiety, peer difficulties, and emotional dysregulation in ways that may not show up at home. A child who appears calm at home but is shutting down or acting out at school is often communicating something important through their behavior that language cannot capture. Play therapy can be a safe place to understand what that something is — particularly for younger children who genuinely don’t have the vocabulary to explain what is happening for them at school. Related: After-school social skills group · Family therapy
Does MindLift accept insurance for children’s therapy?
Yes. We accept most major Texas insurance plans for children’s therapy, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, and United Healthcare/Optum. Play therapy and individual child therapy are billable under mental health benefits for children with a qualifying diagnosis. We verify your child’s benefits before the first session and will walk you through expected costs and copays. If your child does not have a mental health diagnosis, the therapist will conduct an assessment in the first session and discuss whether a diagnosis is appropriate and how that affects your billing. For children with Medicaid or CHIP coverage, please call our office directly to discuss options. All our child therapists are licensed through the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.
Your child’s emotional well-being matters.
Our child therapists serve families across McKinney, Plano, Frisco, Allen, and virtually across Texas.