Helping Professionals Interview Series: Theraplay and Family Therapy with Rose R. Trevino, MA, LPC, RPT-S

Play is a language that all kids understand.

When we work with anxiety and anger management with our children and teens, we often integrate play into our work. Sometimes, we connect families to family therapists even if everything feels like it’s going well. A family therapist can offer their perspective on the entire family dynamic and work on issues together in a way that is different from the work we do individually.

Play therapy can be a great option to opening the lines of communication within your family

We reached out to family therapists in the St. Louis area to discuss the ins and outs of family therapy to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you. Play therapy can be a really great option for families with kids and Rose R. Trevino is a great resource! We interviewed Rose to learn more about how Play Therapy is used within family therapy. Read more below about her experience!

Why did you choose to become a child and family therapist in St. Louis?

Well, St. Louis was the easy part as I'm from the area! As for becoming a child and family therapist, the first reason is that I simply love to work with children. I think most therapists have a population or age group that they find themselves connecting to, and for me, it's children. It’s crucial that working with children also means working with the family. The development and the mental health of children is directly connected to family attachment and dynamics.

It's almost like one of those sliding tile puzzles; in order to get the final picture you're looking for, we have to shift and adjust more than one piece. All the pieces work together, it's not just about one piece.

I'm always so excited when a family comes in for help with their child because I know it's possible for us to work together and make lasting changes. And as each family grows and makes changes, it creates a foundation for our communities to do the same. And that just makes me smile.

What kind of treatment do you provide?

I'm a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor so play therapy is a large portion of the work that I do. Play therapy in general can be used to address a range of mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, grief, loss, communication skills, socialization skills, and emotional identification and expression skills. As part of being a play therapist, I am also trained in Theraplay and Child Parent Relationship Training, which are tools specific to addressing attachment and behavioral concerns. In addition to this, I am also trained in Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, which is directed to addressing attachment and behavioral concerns in children who have experienced significant trauma.

What ages do you work with?

I work with children as young as 2 on up. I also work often with parents and young adults who are transitioning to adulthood.

What can families expect to leave with after working with you?

A feeling of hope.  Hope that things can get better and stay that way.  A feeling of confidence. Confidence that they have the tools to help their family and themselves. But, maybe most of all, that they are not alone. That they have had an experience where they felt heard, understood, and supported. And know that walking out the door doesn't  mean they leave those things behind. I'm on their team now and I'm here for whenever they need.

Who are your favorite types of clients to work with?

I don't know that I have a favorite. Each person that walks in my door is unique and brings something different and I love that. 

What happens during a first appointment with you?

I'm going to ask you a million questions! Actually, I am, but really I'm going to get to know all about you and what brought you to my door and you are going to get to know me. And together we are going to make a plan to figure out how to get you to where you want to be, either as an individual or as a family. 

Could you talk a little about your approach and how it plays into work with people recovering from anxiety?

I tend to use a very structured approach when the primary concern is anxiety. How we engage is play based but what we are doing is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT is based on our thoughts, feelings, and actions are all interconnected and affect each other. This means if we change one thing, the others will change. So, we are going to learn about anxiety and then figure out which area works best for you to change the pattern your brain is in right now. An intention of this approach is to help you feel empowered in a way that works for you.

What do you wish people knew about getting play therapy as a family?

It's fun. You get to play. I know. It seems too easy. But, when working with children it is so important to remember that play is their primary language. When we use their language we can make changes and get results. Did I mention it's also fun?

How can people learn more and contact you?

They can visit my website, email me or call.  

Share one fun fact about you that most people don’t know.

I'm currently perfecting how to make french macaron cookies. It's a tough and delicious process ;)


Curious to learn more about anxiety treatment? Wondering if you need to connect with a Theraplay specialist in St. Louis? Contact Compassionate Counseling St. Louis to set up a free 15-minute phone consult. We’ll talk about what’s going on and best next steps - and if we’re not the right fit, we’ll connect you with other wonderful St. Louis-based therapists, like Rose!

Compassionate Counseling St. Louis provides specialized anger management and anxiety therapy in St. Louis for kids, teens, and college students. We work in Clayton, MO and serve kids, teens, and college students throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Coeur, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood.

Thumbnail image provided by: Markus Spiske

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How Can I Help My Child With Social Anxiety?

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Interview Series: Family and Marriage Therapy with Max Zubatsky, PhD, LMFT