Child-Centered Play Therapy: How It Helps Kids Thrive
We’re excited to announce that our new therapist, Rachel Simons, MSW, LMSW, is now offering Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis! This approach is designed to help kids process big emotions, build resilience, and develop essential coping skills—all in a way that feels natural and engaging for them.
But what exactly is Child-Centered Play Therapy, and how do you know if it’s the right fit for your child? Let’s break it down.
What is Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)?
CCPT is a research-supported therapy approach where children use play to communicate their emotions and work through challenges. Instead of relying solely on verbal discussions, play becomes the language of therapy, allowing kids to explore their feelings, process stress, and build problem-solving skills.
Through play, children can:
Express emotions they might not have words for yet
Build confidence and self-esteem
Learn to navigate social relationships
Who Benefits Most from Child-Centered Play Therapy?
CCPT can be especially effective for children aged 3 to 10 who are:
Experiencing anxiety or stress
Managing behavioral challenges like anger or impulsivity
Struggling with transitions, trauma, or grief
Developing social-emotional skills
The research backs this up! A meta-analysis by Ray et al. (2015) found that kids participating in CCPT showed significant improvement compared to peers receiving no intervention or alternative therapies. What’s notable is that children often experienced these benefits after just 12 sessions—a relatively short timeframe for meaningful change.
Similarly, Pester et al. (2019) reviewed single-case studies and found CCPT particularly effective for reducing internalizing (e.g., anxiety, sadness) and externalizing (e.g., anger, defiance) behaviors, as well as improving social skills.
Who Might Not Be the Best Fit for CCPT?
While CCPT is a great option for many kids, there are cases where other therapeutic approaches might be more appropriate:
Adolescents or older children who benefit more from talk therapy or structured interventions like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Children whose challenges are better addressed through highly skills-focused approaches, such as parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) or trauma-focused interventions.
At Compassionate Counseling St. Louis, we assess each child’s needs to ensure the therapy they receive is the best fit for them.
What Sets Us Apart?
While Rachel specializes in CCPT, she’ll also integrate skills-based techniques when needed, tailoring therapy to meet each child’s unique needs. We track progress weekly using Feedback-Informed Treatment, so you can be confident your child is making meaningful strides.
We also incorporate weekly parent check-ins to ensure we’re addressing your family’s concerns and aligning on therapy goals. You’ll never feel out of the loop—we’re here to partner with you every step of the way.
Ready to Get Started?
If your child is feeling overwhelmed, struggling with big emotions, or could benefit from a safe space to grow, let’s connect. Whether you’re looking to start therapy now or plan for the new year, Rachel is currently accepting new clients ages 3 and up.
At Compassionate Counseling St. Louis, we believe every child deserves to feel supported, understood, and capable of thriving. Let’s help your child take that first step today.
Schedule a free consultation on our website or contact us directly to learn more!
Curious to learn more about anxiety and anxiety-driven anger? Reach out to us at hello@compassionatecounselingstl.com. As child anxiety experts, we love working with kids, teens, college students and parents to help manage their anxiety, stress, and anger. Compassionate Counseling St. Louis is located in Clayton, MO and works with families throughout Creve Couer, Ballwin, Town and Country, Brentwood, and Ladue. We also provide online therapy Missouri wide to teens and college students. You can set up your first free consult on this website, on our consultation page.