PlayWorks Individual and Family Therapy

02/11/2026

EMDRIA (emdria.org) is the site to find information about EMDR and to find therapists who have finished both levels of training or are certified. Certified means both levels of training were completed, received additional training and meets continuing education requirements to uphold the certification, and has received several hours of supervision. I have been certified for about 14 years. EMDR is a powerful therapy that takes training to understand and safely guide people through the process. Any questions just ask!

02/07/2026

Final day of Play Therapy Week! Sand Tray therapy is an expressive therapy technique where clients (children, teens, or adults) use miniature figures in a sand-filled tray to create images. It’s tapping into the subconscious to explore thoughts and feelings that may not be in the awareness. Many different figures and items are displayed for the person to pick from to create images in the sand. This helps with expressing one self and helps create more of a personal awareness. Sand Tray is a powerful technique that helps create healing in people of all ages. Many people love doing Sand Tray, even though they may feel kinda awkward at first. It is a fun, engaging process. The first few pictures are of the adult/teen miniatures/objects with the sand tray on the floor. The last picture are items in the Play Therapy room for younger kids. Sand Tray is usually a directed activity and it is a form of Play Therapy. There are several categories such as animals, fantasy, super hero, household, people, trauma items, vehicles, holidays, family, etc.

02/07/2026

Life goals! Some days are easier and some days are harder. You got this!

Some days, our children remind us of lessons we adults spend years trying to master.
A 4-year-old choosing not to “let the bad parts win” is more than cute — it’s emotional intelligence in its purest form.
Kids see the world with a softness we often lose, and their perspective is a quiet invitation for us to slow down, breathe, and choose joy with intention.
A gentle reminder: sometimes the smallest voices carry the biggest wisdom. 💛

02/07/2026

It’s all about balance. Play is needed for proper brain development.

Toy Story 5 may have just delivered one of the clearest warnings about modern childhood. The villain isn’t a monster or a scary figure; it’s a tablet. This reflects a growing concern among parents and scientists: screens are quietly taking over the time, attention, and imagination that used to define childhood.
Today, kids spend 5 to 7 hours a day on devices. Free play, outdoor activity, and pretend games are shrinking. Screens provide instant images but remove problem-solving, reduce pretend-play, and collapse attention spans. The average toddler now expects new stimulation every 7 to 12 seconds; this isn’t curiosity, it’s overstimulation.
Hands-on toys and real-world play remain crucial. They build motor skills, spatial awareness, creativity, and problem-solving. Screens, no matter how interactive, cannot replace the three-dimensional, multi-sensory experiences that form strong brains.
Even the connection suffers. Eye contact, shared smiles, joint attention, and emotional mirroring are all critical for wiring the social and emotional brain. Screens often steal these moments without parents even noticing.
Disney’s message is bold but necessary: protecting childhood means prioritizing play, imagination, and human connection over glowing screens. It is a reminder that real childhood happens when hands, minds, and hearts are fully engaged.

02/06/2026

Another Play Room we have is the sensory room. Here we can work on releasing trauma and feelings that get stuck in the body. Trauma gets stored in the body and is a disconnection from the body and self. Through sensory play reconnection and healing can happen. An outside natural play therapy/healing garden area is being worked on that we should be able to use this summer. Healing through play is powerful. It’s working through and processing things that affect us so we don’t carry them into adulthood. Happy Play Therapy Week.

02/05/2026

Play Therapy lets kids act out their thoughts and feelings. As a play therapist, I in turn can reflect with them, helping them process and work through those feelings. Such as this first picture of a child who is feeling like they are not being heard and their feelings are not bring validated. This is important information to help parents understand how to help their child heal. As parents we try our best but it’s easy to miss things. Information is never to judge or shame, but to help bridge gaps. Happy Play Therapy Week! Have you done something playful today?

02/04/2026

02/04/2026

Day 3 of Play Therapy week! Pictures are of PlayWorks Play Therapy Room. There are two types of play therapy and many theories. One type is indirect where the child leads the play and the therapist follows their lead. Often tracking and reflecting is used. The second type is direct where the therapist leads an activity. This is often min the sand , art, or any other creative form. At PlayWorks both are used during a session and EMDR is often incorporated into the play sessions also. Play is healing!

02/02/2026

Biking is a wonderful activity at all ages. Lots of physical and mental health benefits.

02/02/2026

Day 2 of Play Therapy Week. Play is crucial for the brain at all ages. It helps fight depression and anxiety and keeps the brain young and healthy. It also helps build connections. Lack of play is seen as a big reason we are seeing mental health issues at a much younger age in children. Have you played or been playful today?

02/01/2026

This is the week we take time to educate about Play Therapy. In the play room, toys have a purpose and they are used by children to express and work through their thoughts and feelings. As trained play therapists, we help this process through attunement and connection by tracking and reflecting what we are seeing. Children play out what they know in the world and this allows trained professionals to assess and help process, helping with coping and healing in the child. Please let me know any questions you have and continue looking this week for more information and pictures of PlayWorks Play Therapy room. I am a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor and am on the Board for the ND chapter of APT, acting as the Secretary.

01/28/2026

Reach out if you’re struggling. PlayWorks has some openings available! Take care of you!