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Play Therapy Services in Kansas and Missouri

Helping children heal, grow, and thrive through the power of play

What is play therapy?

In its most natural form, play is a language, but not just any language. Play is the first universal language of every human being – regardless of culture, generation, or location. Before any of us learned how to speak and express ourselves with words, we conveyed our thoughts, emotions, and questions non-verbally through the act of play. As the most organic way of learning, play is how children learn to engage with and process the nuances of life.

Play therapy is so much more than just ‘playtime.’ 

Play therapy is a gentle, effective, age-appropriate form of therapy that allows children to express themselves, process big emotions, and develop healthy coping skills. Children do not have the cognitive ability to express themselves with words, but they are fluent in the language of play. In other words, children may not be able to tell us what’s bothering them—but through play, they can show us.

We offer play therapy services for children aged 3+ including:

  • Directive and non-directive play therapy services
  • Theraplay® for Child-parent relationship building
  • Trauma-informed play therapy
  • AUT Play® therapy for children with Autism
A child in a blue shirt joyfully swings high against a clear blue sky in a playground, with a gazebo roof and climbing structure in the background.
Three young children play in a sandbox, surrounded by trees. Two boys sit on the edge, one holding a toy truck. A girl interacts with a red car. The scene is playful and serene.

Issues play therapy can help treat

Whether your child is struggling with maladaptive behaviors, temper tantrums, or social difficulties, play therapy provides a supportive environment for healing and healthy development. Play therapy is especially effective at addressing emotional, behavioral, social, and developmental issues, including:

  • Anxiety and stress
  • Depression
  • ADHD
  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
  • Grief and loss
  • Social challenges
  • Major life transitions
  • Attachment issues
  • Conduct Disorder
  • Behavioral issues
  • Overly aggressive behavior
  • Trauma
  • Developmental concerns
  • Academic or school-related challenges
  • Learning disabilities
  • And more

Play therapy can also help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Our in-house Certified AutPlay® Therapist helps children on the spectrum develop social skills, communicate their needs, and manage their emotions in healthy ways.

Your Child’s First Play Therapy Session – What To Expect 

A welcoming environment 

First and foremost, you can count on us to provide you and your child with a welcoming and safe environment. Our therapeutic playrooms are specifically curated to cover all the themes associated with play. We provide an inviting playroom that caters to whatever your child may need including toys, games, and art supplies. In a play therapy session, your child will get to explore. From opening cabinets to interacting with kinetic sand, we provide your child with a colorful, tactile experience to facilitate adventurous sensory play and age-appropriate therapy.

Your one-on-one play therapy session will be administered or supervised by a fully licensed and certified Registered Play Therapist (RPT) who will facilitate and/or evaluate therapeutic interventions. After the first few sessions, your Play Therapist will create a personalized plan tailored to your child’s unique needs. They will also provide regular updates for parents/caregivers as well as opportunities for in-session parent-child collaboration. 

During a play therapy session, your Play Therapist will facilitate age-appropriate, play-based therapy. Through a variety of therapeutic interventions involving toys, art, storytelling, and role play, your child will explore their emotions and develop healthy coping skills. Our Play Therapists will facilitate this explorative learning process by drawing on a variety of different techniques.

Two young children sit on a tiled floor, smiling warmly. The older child hugs the younger one, conveying a sense of affection and joy.
A young child in a knitted sweater holds a paintbrush and a palette covered in colorful paints, intently painting on a small canvas indoors.

What is needed for play therapy?

Non-directive play therapy

During a non-directive play therapy session (sometimes called child-centered play), your Play Therapist will follow your child’s lead in an interactive playroom to allow natural exploration of thoughts and feelings.

Directive play therapy

In a directive play session, the Play Therapist takes on a more active role and guides the playtime to help the child work through and process specific issues and emotions. 

Sand tray therapy

A favorite technique for many, sand tray therapy allows children to explore their inner experiences using miniature figures and objects.  

Art therapy

Another favorite technique is art therapy. During an artistic therapy intervention, children are encouraged to use art materials such as paints, clay, crayons, etc. to express their inner world.

Storytelling therapy

Storytelling is especially beneficial for younger children who have experienced trauma. During a storytelling intervention, a Play Therapist may create a story with the child or use puppets to act out situations to help children process difficult experiences.

Benefits Of Play Therapy

Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate therapy modality that can be deeply healing and highly transformative, especially for children navigating serious issues. We will work collaboratively with you to help your child make sense of their world and build confidence and resilience. The benefits of play therapy are endless and unique to every child, however, here are the top common benefits play therapy can help facilitate.

Emotional benefits

Improves emotional regulation
Increases self-esteem
Helps process trauma

Developmental benefits

Improves decision making skills
Increases social confidence
Boosts creativity

Academic benefits

Helps cognitive development
Improves concentration and focus
Supports problem-solving skills

Behavioral benefits

Helps adjust to major life change
Teaches healthy coping strategies 
Reduces problem behaviors

Relational benefits

Improves conflict resolution skills
Increases emotional intelligence
Deepens social attachments

Communication benefits

Increases nonverbal expression
Improves cooperative play
Helps social skills

A child in a blue jacket joyfully reaches for large, colorful soap bubbles floating in the air. The background is slightly blurred, showing people nearby.
A young boy joyfully runs with a kite, while an adult jogs behind him in a grassy park at sunset. The scene is vibrant and lively.

Commonly Asked Questions

How much does play therapy cost? And do you accept insurance?

We accept all major commercial insurances in Kansas and Missouri as well as Medicaid and Medicare. To confirm if we accept your insurance, please contact your insurance provider and call our office at: 816-477-3772

The cost for a play therapy session is the contracted rate determined by your insurance. In other words, the session rate will vary depending on the contracted rate we have in place with your insurance. Otherwise, self-pay is $150 per session. Most of the time, HSA funds can be used to pay for play therapy, however, we always recommend you contact your insurance provider to confirm.

Play therapy is ideal for children ages 3-12, however, the principles of play therapy can be adapted into creative or expressive arts therapy for teens and even adults.

Play therapy sessions are typically done weekly, and each session is 53-minutes long. The duration of treatment varies based on the child’s unique reasons for seeking care. Some children see sustainable benefit from short term care (typically 12+ sessions). For children who have experienced trauma or have more complex needs, longer-term therapy of around 24-50 sessions over 12 months may be prescribed.

Playtime is essential for healthy development. While home-based play is important and highly encouraged, play therapy in a clinician’s office is highly intentional, structured, guided, and monitored by a Registered Play Therapist or a Play Therapist in training under the supervision of a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S). Play Therapists are experts in child development and child psychology, and they will closely observe patterns and emotional expressions to help the child heal and form healthy attachments as they grow.

It depends. In a non-directive play session, children are typically seen individually to ensure they feel free to express themselves. However, parents will constantly be involved through updates, consultations, and family sessions. Additionally, we do offer Theraplay® sessions where the focus is on strengthening the parent-child relationship through play based attunement and attachment exercises.

Still have questions? Please call our office at: 816-477-3772

Meet our play therapists

We believe the power of play can facilitate the connection, creativity, and trust children need to blossom. If you are concerned about your child’s emotional or behavioral wellbeing, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We have seen incredible transformations in our playrooms and would be honored to come alongside you to help your child thrive.

Meet Our Therapists
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