Helping Professionals Interview Series: Play Therapy with Rachel Simons, MSW, LMSW of Compassionate Counseling St. Louis
Rachel Simons, MSW, LMSW
We are very excited to share that Rachel Simons, MSW, LMSW has joined Compassionate Counseling St. Louis!
Rachel spent time serving in the Peace Corps before joining the mental health field and now focuses on providing child centered play therapy at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis! We sat down with Rachel to learn more about why she became a therapist, how she uses play therapy and how she helps St. Louis kids with anxiety and anxiety driven anger.
Why did you decide to become a therapist?
I decided to become a social worker after serving in the Peace Corps from 2018 to 2020. While I had always known I wanted to work in a helping profession, my time in Belize made it clear exactly how I wanted to contribute. It was my first experience working closely with children, and I quickly discovered how much I loved it.
At the same time, I witnessed firsthand the challenges children face as they grow up. We often idealize childhood as the best part of life, but it can be incredibly difficult. From navigating a lack of autonomy and independence to managing peer conflicts, children face many obstacles. I also saw the impact of limited access to behavioral health resources, which inspired me to pursue social work as a way to help address these challenges.
What's your favorite part about counseling?
My favorite part of providing therapy is creating a safe, sacred space where children, adolescents, and young adults can heal and express themselves, whether through play, conversation, art, or other forms of expression. It’s incredibly rewarding to witness a client embrace that space and use it to explore their personal growth. Being part of that process is an honor I cherish every day.
What do you feel is the most important part of therapy?
The therapeutic relationship. Without it, progress is not possible. A client needs to feel trust, safety, and warmth when they enter therapy, and that is always my goal throughout the course of working with a client.
How would you describe your specialty?
As a play therapist in training, I have fallen in love with child-centered play therapy. I love combining both non-directive and directive interventions. This allows space for clients to express themselves in any way during a therapy session, whether that be through play, art, or verbal expression. After all, all behavior is communication!
The non-judgmental and non-contained form of expression that child-centered play therapy allows provides information about a client on a deeper level, when they may not be as capable or ready to engage in traditional talk therapy.
My approach blends non-directive and directive interventions, creating room for clients to express themselves freely while also learning practical skills to manage their emotions and behaviors. I love that play therapy interventions can help kids communicate in their own unique way, while also uncovering what’s really going on beneath the surface, and creating space for growth and resilience.
What age range do you work with?
I work with kids as young as 3, as well as teens and young adults, helping them tackle anxiety, depression, and school-related struggles.
My favorite ages to work with are 4-10 year olds. I LOVE doing child-centered play therapy with the little ones.
What does your typical first session look like?
My first session typically involves both the caregiver and the client, as I primarily work with youth. I gather assessment information and outcome measures from both in a collaborative manner.
If there are topics or experiences that would be more appropriately discussed one-on-one with a parent or caregiver, I schedule a phone call to address them further.
I also reserve at least 15 minutes for one-on-one time with the client, allowing us to connect and build rapport. During this time, I use more directive play therapy techniques, including "get to know you" games.
Share a little bit about the overlap that you notice between anxiety, anger management, and conduct issues.
I’ve noticed that anxiety, anger management issues, and conduct problems are often accompanied by low self-esteem. While clients may not always express anger directly in therapy sessions, it is often reported by parents, caregivers, and teachers.
Anxiety, in particular, can make a person’s world feel very small, limiting the activities they may want or need to engage in. For children, this can restrict their growth and development, leading to feelings of inadequacy, which often contributes to both low self-esteem and anger.
What are your top 3 favorite items to use in counseling sessions?
Sand tray, art supplies, and the floor!
What do you love to do in your free time?
In my free time, I love spending time outdoors and traveling to new places.
If you weren't a therapist, what would you be?
I used to dream of being an interior designer or professional organizer, but realistically, I would be in another helping profession!
How can you work with Rachel?
Appointments with Rachel can be scheduled through our intake coordinator right here. You can schedule a free phone consultation to find out more about Compassionate Counseling St. Louis and get your child scheduled with Rachel!
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 via in-person counseling and online therapy throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Couer, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood. We 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.