Cary M. Hamilton LMHC, RPT-S, CDWF

02/05/2026

STAGE 3: Limit Testing - “Am I Really Safe Here?”

Okay, real talk time.

Your kid has been doing great in play therapy. Building trust. Opening up.

And then suddenly... BOOM. They’re throwing toys. Breaking rules. Testing every single boundary. Being defiant or aggressive or pushing back HARD.

At home? Behaviors might get WORSE. Bigger meltdowns. More resistance.

Parents call me panicked: “Is therapy making things worse?!”

And I smile and say: “Nope. It’s working.”

Here’s what’s happening: Your child is testing whether this safety is REAL. They’re asking, “If I show you my biggest, messiest, most unlovable parts—will you still accept me? Am I safe even when I’m hard?”

Think of it like this: before a paper airplane can fly, you fold it hard. You crease it firmly. You test if it can handle pressure.

That’s what your child is doing. Testing if the folds will hold.

This stage is HARD. For parents, it feels like everything is falling apart.

And it’s not falling apart. It’s folding together—just in ways that don’t feel comfortable yet.

The plane needs these sharp creases to catch air. Your child needs to test limits to truly trust safety.
Hang in there. This fold matters. 

  playtherapyheals

02/05/2026

02/05/2026

Here’s what broke my heart as a parent: watching my kids try so hard to fold themselves into shapes that weren’t theirs. Sitting still when their bodies needed to move. Being quiet when they needed to stim. Masking to make other people comfortable.

And here’s what healed it: finding spaces—including the play therapy room—where they could unfold. Where stimming was welcome. Where big movements weren’t problems. Where lining things up wasn’t something to “fix”—it was their brain doing exactly what it needed to do.

Play therapy for neurodivergent kids isn’t about teaching them to be “normal.” It’s about honoring their unique operating system while giving them tools, support, and the profound experience of being fully accepted.

Those folds? They’re not mistakes. They’re the design that makes YOUR child’s flight pattern uniquely beautiful.

 

02/03/2026

Getting Comfortable & Building Trust
You know what the first sessions of play therapy look like?
Sometimes... not much.

Your kid might be shy. Hesitant. They might just watch me. Or only play with one toy. Or cling to you at drop-off.
And that’s PERFECT.

Because before we can do any folding, we need to lay the paper flat. Before a child can do therapeutic work, they need to feel safe.

In these early stages, your child is learning: → This person is safe → This room is predictable
→ I can be myself here → Nothing bad happens when I show my real feelings

You might notice easier drop-offs after a few weeks. More willingness to stay. Maybe they start talking about “their” playroom.

These aren’t small things. These are the foundation folds—the ones everything else builds on.
We’re not rushing to flight. We’re making sure the design is solid first.

Trust takes time. And time spent building safety is never wasted. ✈️
 

02/03/2026

It’s International Play Therapy Week, and I’m coming at this from two perspectives: as a play therapist with 20 years of experience, and as a mom to neurodivergent kids who has sat in waiting rooms hoping someone would truly SEE my children.

Here’s what I know from both chairs: Play therapy isn’t about fixing kids. It’s about creating a space where every fold, every difference, every unique way of being is celebrated—because those “differences” aren’t flaws. They’re what make flight possible.

This week, I’m sharing what play therapy really looks like and why it matters so much to families like mine (and maybe yours too).

Follow along. ✈️

 

02/03/2026

Happy Play Therapy Week!
The Stages of Play Overview
Parents ask me this all the time, and I get it. You want to see progress NOW. You want proof this is helping.
But here’s the thing about folding paper airplanes: you don’t just grab paper and throw it in the air. There’s a process. Each fold matters. Each crease builds on the last one.
Play therapy has stages—and they don’t always look like “progress” from the outside. Sometimes the hardest work looks like a kid testing limits or having bigger meltdowns at home.
This week, I’m walking you through what these stages actually look like, what you might notice as a parent, and why even the messy parts matter.
Because those folds that seem backwards? They’re often the ones that give the plane its lift.
Let’s talk about the real journey of play therapy—not the highlight reel, but the whole beautiful, bumpy flight path. ✈️
 

01/31/2026

01/27/2026

01/24/2026

❄️Our department is declaring a “Hazardous Weather” advisory to increase shelter-in-place efforts and extend overnight shelter capacity for Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25, 2026. Get more information here: https://ow.ly/Q1Kr50Y2fkq

See the full Thurston County Shelter List: https://ow.ly/B0sQ50Y2fku

01/21/2026

There are many warning signs that a person may be at risk of su***de. If you or someone you know needs help now, the is here to help. Check out this thread to learn about su***de warning signs in adults. Visit 988lifeline.org to learn more.

01/18/2026

🎈Join us and community partners at the upcoming Thurston & Mason County Developmental Disabilities Resource Fair! Explore state agencies, employment, housing, transportation, recreation, financial services, advocacy, and family support. Resources are tailored for individuals with disabilities but helpful for all families!

Learn more and how to get additional support here 👉 https://ow.ly/fPvF50XRbls