Play Therapy in tampA

Play Therapy in Tampa & Virtual in 43 States

On average, families see improvement in as little as 4 to 5 sessions.

Tampa Pediatric Psychology specializes in therapy for children through young adults and college students.

Therapy for young children often looks different than therapy for adults. Children may not have the words to explain what they are feeling, why they are acting out, or what feels hard inside. Play, creativity, movement, and storytelling can help children express themselves in ways that feel more natural and developmentally appropriate.

What Is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a child-centered approach that uses play, imagination, art, games, and storytelling to help children communicate, process emotions, practice coping skills, and make sense of their experiences. For younger children, play is often one of the most natural ways to express feelings, explore relationships, and work through challenges.

In therapy, play can give children a safe way to show what they may not be able to say directly. It can also help psychologists understand how a child approaches emotions, frustration, flexibility, relationships, problem-solving, and stress.

Play therapist in tampa

Expertise you Can trust

We work with children experiencing:

Parents often seek play therapy when their child is experiencing:

  • Anxiety, fears, or separation worries

  • Tantrums, meltdowns, or emotional outbursts

  • Defiance, aggression, or frequent power struggles

  • Difficulty with transitions or changes in routine

  • Low self-esteem or frequent frustration

  • Social challenges or trouble with friendships

  • Sleep issues, school stress, or adjustment difficulties

  • Grief, divorce, trauma, moves, or family transitions

  • ADHD-related impulsivity, emotional reactivity, or behavior concerns

Many parents search for play therapy because they know their child needs support, but they are not sure what type of therapy is the best fit. That is exactly what we help families clarify.

Our Approach to Play Therapy

Our approach is warm, developmentally informed, and evidence-based. For many young children, the most effective therapy includes both child-focused work and parent involvement. Depending on your child’s needs, treatment may include play-based strategies, parent training, behavior therapy, CBT-informed coping skills, exposure-based strategies for anxiety, or Parent-Child Interaction Therapy.

Parent involvement helps therapy carry over into the moments that matter most: bedtime, mornings, school transitions, homework, sibling conflict, and big emotions at home.

The goal is not just for your child to enjoy coming to therapy (that’s just one part). The goal is for therapy to help your child and family experience meaningful changes at home, school, and in daily life.

Ready to Get Started?

Therapy begins with an intake appointment to understand your child’s development, symptoms, family context, school functioning, and your goals for treatment. From there, we recommend a therapy plan based on your child’s needs.

Step 1:

Complete our secure consultation form and our Intake Specialist will help match you with one of our clinicians.

Step 2:

Complete a 15-minute video consultation with the psychologist to ensure we are a good fit for your needs.

Step 3:

Start your journey!