Services / Play therapy
for young children
Play therapy in Los Angeles
Children don’t always have words for big feelings, but they can show us. In play therapy, toys, art and games become your child’s language, and a trained therapist helps them work through what’s underneath the behavior.
how it helps
What play therapy can help with.
Play therapy helps children who are struggling with feelings or behavior they can’t yet explain.
- Big emotions, tantrums and meltdowns
- Anxiety, worries and fears
- Aggression or behavior challenges at home or school
- Divorce, a move or a new sibling
- Grief and loss
- Trauma or a frightening experience
- Trouble with friendships and social skills
- Sensory differences and neurodivergence, including ADHD and autism
- Sleep struggles after a big change
- Separation anxiety at school drop-off
how it works
What a session looks like.
Free discovery call
A 15-minute call with our Care Coordinator, who listens to what’s going on and matches your child with the right therapist.
Parent meeting
We learn your child’s story first: how they play, sleep, eat and connect, and what worries you.
Weekly play sessions
In a playroom with toys, art and sensory materials, your child leads and the therapist follows, helping them make sense of their feelings. Sessions typically last 50 minutes.
Parent partnership
Regular check-ins, one to three times a month, share what’s coming up in play and give you tools to use at home.
our approach
Types of play therapy we use.
Your child’s therapist chooses the approach that fits your child’s age, needs and personality.
Child-centered play therapy
Your child leads and the therapist follows. Feeling accepted and understood in play helps children build confidence and self-control.
DIR/Floortime
A developmental, relationship-based approach that meets your child at their developmental level, often used with autistic and neurodivergent children.
Synergetic play therapy
Helps children learn to regulate their nervous system through play, with the therapist modeling calm in the moment.
Sensory play
Sand, water, textures and movement support children who feel too much, or too little, of the world around them.
Sand tray
Children build scenes with miniatures in sand, a way to show what is hard to say.
Parent-child therapy
For babies, toddlers and preschoolers, sessions can include you, strengthening your connection through play.
where we meet
Playrooms in Santa Monica and West LA.
Online across California
Most play therapy happens in person in our playrooms. We also offer online sessions and parent coaching for families anywhere in California.
Convenient for families in Santa Monica, Brentwood, Pacific Palisades, Westwood, Culver City, Mar Vista, Venice and Beverly Hills.
meet your therapists
Our play therapists.
Our Care Coordinator will match your child with the therapist who fits best.
Cassidy Manning
Santa Monica Site Director · Lead Therapist
Play therapy, Floortime and adolescence
View bio
Adaly “Addy” Mazakis
Lead Therapist · Santa Monica
Ages 0 to 5, parent-child therapy; speaks Spanish
View bio
Homa Alamdari
Associate Therapist · Santa Monica
Adolescence, sensory play; speaks Spanish and Farsi
View bio
Erica “Brege” von Bleicken
West LA Site Director · Lead Therapist
Play therapy, sensory processing and ADHD
View bio
Taylor Cerny
Associate Therapist · West LA
DIR/Floortime, child-centered play and neurodiversity
View bio
Stephanie Denzer
Associate Therapist · West LA
Children and teens, anxiety and life transitions
View bioquestions parents ask
Play therapy FAQ
What is play therapy?
Play therapy is a form of therapy for children that uses play, a child’s natural language, to help them express feelings, work through hard experiences and learn new ways to cope. A trained therapist uses toys, art, sand and games with purpose, so play becomes a path to healing.
What ages is play therapy for?
Play therapy is most often used with children from about 2 to 12. For babies and toddlers we offer parent-child sessions, and older kids and teens often move toward talk-based teen therapy.
Is play therapy evidence-based?
Yes. Decades of research, including large reviews that combine many studies, show play therapy helps children with anxiety, behavior challenges and emotional difficulties. Read more in Does Play Therapy Work?
How will I know what’s happening in sessions?
Regular parent check-ins cover the themes coming up in play, how your child is progressing and what you can do at home to build the same skills.
Can play therapy help my child through divorce?
Yes. Play gives children a safe way to express confusion, sadness or worry they can’t yet put into words. Read Can Play Therapy Help My Child Through My Divorce?
How long does play therapy take?
It depends on your child. Sessions are weekly, and your child’s therapist will give you an estimate after getting to know your child, then adjust as they grow.
Do you take insurance?
We don’t bill insurance directly, but you may be able to use your out-of-network benefits. Each month you’ll receive a superbill to send to your insurance company for reimbursement.
How do we get started?
Book a free 15-minute discovery call. Our Care Coordinator will listen to what’s going on, answer your questions and match your child with a therapist.
parents, we’re on your team
Help your child feel calmer and understood.
Start with a free 15-minute call with our Care Coordinator.