Signs Your Child May Need Play Therapy
by Melisa
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“Let’s wait and see if the problem continues.”
“Maybe she will grow out of it.”
“I think it is just a phase.”
“I don’t think it’s serious enough for therapy.”
“It’s not that bad yet, let’s wait and see.”
“He’s just being a boy; they are all wild.”
These are the phrases we hear most often when we ask parents why they waited so long to seek therapy. There is an interesting statistic out there that says most people wait to start therapy until much later than they should. Couples usually seek out therapy 7-8 YEARS after a problem arises. But what we know is that early intervention is always better. So why do people wait so long to get therapy? All of these phrases are rooted in one thing: uncertainty. People are just unsure of what is typical and what elevates the situation to needing help.
When Is a Behavior Change a Sign Your Child May Need Help?
This shift can feel slow. At first, parents might notice slightly more irritability. Your child might be a little more grouchy, a little more often. Enough to make you wonder what's going on, but not enough to take action. Or you might see increased anxiety. For example, your child might all of a sudden be shy about ordering at a restaurant, even though they are usually just fine with it. You might notice that it's out of character, but not enough to take action.
Changes like this are typically normal. Your 8-year-old has started to notice others' opinions of them, so they become a bit more self-conscious. Your pre-teen starts to follow fashion trends, so they become embarrassed and picky about what they wear. It’s no longer cool to be seen with a parent when you are a teen, so they ask you to drop them off in the parking lot instead of the school line. All these behaviors typically come with some sense of irritability. So parents are left wondering what tips the scales and when they need extra help.
Parents may strongly consider therapy for their child when emotional, behavioral, and social concerns start to interfere with daily functioning at home, school, or with their peers. This could look like big emotional reactions, withdrawal from friends or family, challenges at school, or behavioral changes that feel hard to manage at home.
Signs Your Child May Benefit From Play Therapy
It may be time to consider therapy when it starts to interfere with daily living. When your 8-year-old is so self-conscious that she chooses not to go to a few events. When your preteen is so worried about fashion trends, it takes her longer and longer to pick out clothes. When your teen is so embarrassed by their parent that the connection is lost. If you notice any of the following signs, you might consider reaching out to a therapist:
● Persistent anxiety or worries
● Big emotional reactions to small problems
● Sudden behavioral changes
● Getting in trouble at school
● Teachers reporting emotional dysregulation
● Trouble with transitions
● Increased irritability
● Withdrawal from friends
How Play Therapy Helps Children
Play therapy can help children who are having a harder time navigating developmentally appropriate changes. Play therapists believe that play is a child’s natural language, so it makes sense to use play to navigate some of these big feelings and concerns. Through play, children learn coping skills for emotional regulation, build confidence, improve positive self-talk, and strengthen their self-concept.
How Play Therapy Helps Children
Play therapy can help children who are having a harder time navigating developmental challenges, anxiety, emotional regulation, and life changes.
Play therapists believe that play is a child's natural language. Because children often communicate differently than adults, play provides a developmentally appropriate way for them to process experiences, express emotions, and build new skills.
Through play therapy, children can:
Learn emotional regulation skills
Build confidence
Improve positive self-talk
Strengthen their self-concept
Develop healthier coping strategies
For many children, play creates a safe way to work through concerns that feel difficult to put into words.
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Learn About Melissa
Hi I'm Melissa! Ever since I was young, I’ve been passionate about helping families grow stronger together. At Wellnest Counseling, I combine my expertise in play therapy and parenting support to bring peace and joy to your home.
Why Dallas Families Choose WellNest Counseling
Dallas families love working with WellNest Counseling because while we are supporting your child, we are also partnering with parents. At a minimum, we are meeting every 3-4 sessions with the parents to provide guidance, tools, and practical strategies to help you respond to your child’s needs at home. Parents feel supported as their child gains confidence and emotional skills.
Dallas parents also love our parent coaching options. WellNest Counseling works with parents one-on-one to tailor parenting strategies to their unique family situation. The therapists are strength-based. This means we build off of what you are already doing really well. We believe all parents are doing something well, so we start there and add to it. WellNest Counseling prioritizes helping protect family relationships. So while you are learning evidence-based parenting skills and your child is building confidence through play therapy, we are also strengthening the parent-child relationship. This is actually our secret to success, because we know that children who feel connected to their parents are often more cooperative and open to learning from and listening to them.
Unsure Whether Therapy Is the Right Next Step?
If you’re unsure whether therapy is the right next step, reaching out for a consultation can help you decide. Early support often leads to stronger outcomes and helps prevent concerns from growing over time.