Though admittedly biased, I believe most people can benefit from therapy. Having a private space to sort through your thoughts and feelings be it through words or play, serves a person well. One way to begin gaining clarity is to get curious… “in three months/ six months/ 9 months, if things were IDENTICAL to how they are now, how would I feel about that?” If your reaction brings up exhaustion, fear, anxiety, sadness, or disgust; uncovering the cause in counseling would be beneficial.

We can help you determine that during a consult call. There are times when we recommend working with a different type of care (occupational therapy, speech therapy, etc) or when we recommend speaking to a doctor for specific issues. Sometimes we might simply say, "this sounds more like a transitional response" and ask you to wait to determine patterns. Of course, we are big believers in this process and love rejoicing with our clients when they share their progress with us! This process is a tool that can be used preventatively or responsively.

It is easier to begin with, what it isn’t. Play therapy isn’t just playing. Many therapists use play as a means of rapport development for example but playing IN therapy isn’t the same as play therapy. For example, if during the first session, a therapist has a set of UNO cards out with which to play while they talk, the play’s purpose is to help a child feel comfortable. In play therapy, the purpose of the UNO cards is to explore unpredictable outcomes, effect on mood and self-esteem when losing/winning, capacity for honesty, the need to be in charge, etc. The play itself is the catalyst of change. We are given a beautiful gift to speak the language of the child. They don’t have to “say the right things” or even talk at all.

Watch this video to learn more. https://youtu.be/reJpo-GaopM

Children can experience growth in as little as three sessions but a more typical range is 12-22 sessions. The termination process takes place over a series of 3-4 sessions.

Research indicates that weekly sessions are most effective versus spacing sessions out. Once gains are made, some families request to come intermittently.

Counseling services at Playful Hearts Counseling, LLC typically range in length from 50 to 90 minutes, the latter being more standard for family counseling.

Consultation calls are offered virtually. For children under 8, it is the preference of the PHC to have children attend in person. For others, both options are available.

Intakes for minors are typically conducted with the child's parent/guardian and the assigned therapist. The first session following the intake is held with the child and the therapist without the parents.

For family counseling, intakes can be virtual or in-person.

For adults seeking their own counseling or for parenting support, intakes are held either virtually or in person

The purpose of the intake is to review all paperwork, clarify goals, and gather background information.

Fees for a 50 minute individual session are $160. PHC is not in network. With a superbill, families can seek reimbursement through their insurance. Additionally, we work with Mentaya to assist in filing superbills.

When you get emergency care or are treated by an out-of-network provider at an in-network hospital or ambulatory surgical center, you are protected from balance billing. In these cases, you shouldn’t be charged more than your plan’s copayments, coinsurance and/or deductible.

Click hereto learn more about Good Faith Estimates in this context.

Frequently Asked Questions