What is Play Therapy?
Children are not immune to the hardships that come with day-to-day stressors and unexpected events. When these hardships come up for children, it can affect their behavior, performance at school, and relationships with family and peers.
For children, Play Therapy can be a tool to address children’s presenting problems and offer parents support in finding solutions for their child.
What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is to children what counseling is to adults. Children do not have the ability to express themselves with words as an adult would do, so they may find it difficult to verbalize what is troubling them. Play is their language, and the toys become their words. It is a type of therapy that allows children to communicate through play, their most natural form of expression. The toys in the playroom help the children to “play out” their perceptions of their life experiences, their thoughts and feelings, and their needs and desires. With the help of a trained Play Therapist, children can learn to better understand themselves and their world, as well as work to resolve their problems and develop skills to better deal with life.
Why does my child need Play Therapy?
In the process of growing up, most children, at some point, have trouble coping with their life experiences. Some children may exhibit behaviors which are a concern to their parents or teachers. If you, your child’s teacher, or your child’s physician are concerned about your child’s behavior, especially if the child is having difficulty coping, play therapy is a recommended approach to helping your child. This type of therapy has been researched and proven to help children get better over time.
Restoring Hope Counseling in Houston is here to help you and your child on the path of change. We are here to help children learn how to cope with life’s pressures and hardships
Play Therapist
Erin Cominotti, LPC-A
Childhood is an amazing time for exploration and growth. This time in your child’s life is bliss but can present challenges and situations that children may need help in handling. It can be difficult and isolating to see your child struggling at home or in school with no answers or solutions to their pain and struggles. My goal when counseling children is to give them the space to express their emotions and internal conflicts while letting parents know they are not alone in their journey to help their child.
In working with children, I utilize Child-Centered Play Therapy which uses play, the natural language of children, to provide each child with an opportunity for emotional expression, development of coping skills, and growth of self-esteem. Sessions are lead by the child which allows them to feel more comfortable in the counseling process and helps them feel empowered.
I have a passion for working with anyone across the lifespan who is ready to start their journey to healing. For adolescents and adults, I work from a solution focused and strengths based perspective to collaborate on finding realistic solutions and embrace your strengths to achieve your goals. I have training in Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) which can be used to address traumatic experiences, anxious thoughts, and concerns related to future events.
I have a Masters of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Houston-Victoria. I am currently under supervision with Dr. Jennifer Boswell, Ph.D., LPC-S, NCC, RPT-S. When I’m not in session, I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring new hobbies with my friends.
