Dr. Emily Keller

02/14/2026

A little Valentine’s Day story. Patrick and I have been married for 26 years. Throughout that time, he has always played D&D and other games. Last year, he went to Dundracon in Santa Clara. When he came home, he told me I would love the exhibit because I might find toys for play therapy. So, this year, I am here with him. And … he was right. I found these little gems and plan on returning this morning to finish browsing the space and purchase a castle I saw.

One key to lasting love is supporting each other’s playful pastimes and finding the overlaps therein.

Have a playful day!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

02/14/2026

A little Valentine’s Day story. Patrick and I have been married for 26 years. Throughout that time, he has always played D&D and other games. Last year, he went to Dundracon in Santa Clara. When he came home, he told me I would love the exhibit because I might find toys for play therapy. So, this year, I am here with him. And … he was right. I found these little gems and plan on returning this morning to finish browsing the space and purchase a castle I saw.

One key to lasting love is supporting each other’s playful pastimes and finding the overlaps therein.

Have a playful day!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

02/13/2026

Play therapy is a safe place for children to make decisions. In parent sessions, we help parents raise children with an internal locus of control.

Real learning happens in the doing 🌱
When children are given time and space to explore, they grow confidence, curiosity, and trust in themselves.

02/13/2026

You are enough just as you are.

02/13/2026

Yes. 🙌 Parents of young ones, reactions and responses now shape how safe your future teens will feel telling you important things that are potentially more high risk.

Children learn fear not from words, but from how parents handle mistakes.🤎

02/13/2026

Join California Association for Play Therapy in Southern California for Play Therapy Rocks with Jodi Smith!

Register now! https://www.calplaytherapy.org/.../2026-02-21.../register

We still have spots available for Play Therapy Rocks 2/21/26. Please see flyer for more details. We invite you to join us and PLAY, LEARN, & INNOVATE.

02/13/2026

"I want to live in a world in which all children have access to play freely without fear of punishment or harm."

Play transforms lives. It supports healthy growth and development.

Play therapy heals.

When the world is hurting, I want people to ask, "How can we invite more play, joy, and connection into our lives?"

When children are hurting, I want the world to ask, "How can we get them play therapy?"

02/13/2026

“The essential characteristic of human play is not that the emotions are spurious, but that they are regulated.”
Eric Berne, 1964

This post summarizes one of the therapeutic powers of play as outlined by Shaeffer and Drewes in their book The Therapeutic Powers of Play: 20 Core Agents of Change

Self Expression Play: offers a safe space for individuals to express their thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and experiences.

02/13/2026

How would the world change if we all had an unshakable sense of our lovability?

Please don't ever forget that you are loved. ❤️

02/12/2026

Pssst …

Play is a child’s language.

Children don’t have to talk to heal.

Being in a connected relationship with a child is the most important healing factor.

02/12/2026

We will know we have a healthy society when all children can play spontaneously without danger or harm.

02/09/2026

Very simply, shame blurs the boundary between doing and being. Shame says there is something wrong with who you are as a being based on something you did.

For children, the reality is that they are learning. Keep shame out of the learning process and watch them reach for the stars, fall, get up, and reach again.