Pre-School Play Therapy Groups
Our preschool play therapy group is designed for children ages 3-5 who need to learn practical tools to identify and manage their emotions, learn social skills, and feel happier on a day-to-day basis.
The ideal group member is a preschool-aged child who is struggling with problems, behaviors that impact their day-to-day, and big feelings they struggle to manage on their own. Families will get weekly parent updates directly after the group, and have the opportunity to review skills learned in the group to practice at home.
There are a variety of behaviors that might lead a parent to consider setting up their child for a preschool play therapy group. Here are a few examples of kids who might benefit from our preschool play therapy group:
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Difficulty with social interactions: A child who struggles to interact with peers, has difficulty sharing or taking turns, or displays aggressive or overly passive behavior with other children may benefit from play therapy group as it can provide opportunities to practice appropriate social skills and problem-solving strategies.
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Emotional outbursts: Children who have difficulty managing their emotions and exhibit frequent temper tantrums, crying spells, or other intense emotional outbursts may benefit from a play therapy group where they can learn coping strategies and emotional regulation skills.
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Trauma or stress: Children who have experienced a traumatic event or have significant stress in their lives (such as parental divorce, a move, or a family illness) may benefit from a play therapy group where they can process their emotions and feelings in a safe and supportive environment.
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Developmental delays or behavioral issues: Children with developmental delays or behavioral issues, such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorders, may benefit from a play therapy group where they can practice important skills in a structured and supportive setting.
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Anxiety: Children who struggle with separation anxiety or have difficulty adjusting to new environments or routines may benefit from a play therapy group where they can develop coping strategies and practice social interaction in a supportive environment.
For young children, behaviors that may lead a parent to enroll their child in a preschool play therapy group may include difficulties controlling their emotions, such as frequent tantrums or meltdowns, struggles with sharing or interacting with others or engaging in behaviors that may be unsafe, such as hitting or biting. These behaviors may leave the child feeling frustrated, misunderstood, or unable to effectively communicate their needs or feelings.
Our preschool play therapy group can provide a safe and supportive environment for young children to learn new skills and practice emotional regulation, communication, and problem-solving with other children who are also working on these skills. Through play and creative expression, children can explore and process their emotions in a safe and non-threatening way. The group can also provide a supportive space for children to talk about their problems and receive validation and support from their peers and a trained therapist. By participating in the preschool play therapy group, young children learn new skills to help them feel happier and more in control of their lives. They can learn how to manage their emotions, communicate effectively with others, and make good choices. Ultimately, the preschool play therapy group can help preschool-aged children build self-esteem and improve their overall functioning and well-being.
We understand that sometimes parents and caregivers are not able to bring their children to the group during the work day. It is not uncommon for families to have community support to ensure that their child makes it to the group each week. Sometimes our group members are brought by a neighbor, a grandparent, an elder from their church, or a local college student who transports them to appointments in between classes. If this is the case, we just ask that families send the parent/caregiver report with the person bringing the child.
What to expect
Investment of Time.
Participating in a preschool play therapy group each week is an investment in your child, their relationships, and their future.
When enrolling your young child to participate in the preschool play therapy group, ask yourself the question, do we have the time to dedicate to this opportunity?
Our preschool play therapy group requires a willingness to put in the time and effort during group for your child and in between group sessions to learn new skills and practice them consistently for both the caregiver AND the child. Investment of time would be blocking out the weekly group in your calendar each week to transport your child, as well as ensuring their schedule is clear for them to attend rescheduling or not double-book responsibilities.
Caregiver involvement significantly impacts progress. We see caregivers as part of your child’s treatment team and that involvement is highly recommended. Involvement can lead to greater success in managing emotions and behaviors. Involvement can look like:
- Filling out our caregiver report each week on what’s going well, what they struggled with, and feedback
- Coordinating communication between group therapist and child’s pre-school, daycare, and/or early childhood center
- Practice skills to build confidence, thus your child will more likely retain and use those skills in their daily life
Investment of Money.
Participating in a Pre-School Play Therapy group each week is $50/per session.
We do not bill insurance for our groups.
Groups are designed to be psychoeducational, skills development, and support. In general, skills groups are not covered by Medicaid or commercial insurance because they do not meet the criteria for “medical necessity.”
Children are expensive. Daycare, sports, toys, extracurriculars, and so on, and now the expectation to pay for group counseling? We understand there is a financial impact of treatment on any household and can put a strain on the family’s finances.
As you know, mental health conditions can have significant impacts on a person’s life, including their ability to work, form relationships, and engage in daily activities. Without proper treatment, mental health conditions can worsen over time and become more difficult and expensive to treat, for example, IOP or hospitalization. While it may be difficult to make financial sacrifices in the short term, the long-term benefits of treatment can be invaluable.
Complete form to start the conversation and explore the next steps!
Use the contact form to inquire about groups.
Weekly groups are $50/session
Due to the influx of referrals, please be patient with us, as we will respond as quickly as we can. The messages are checked daily, if you do not get a response in 24 hours please resubmit.
We appreciate you reaching out to us, we look forward to working with you!