— Services
Play Therapy
At Mindful State Therapy Services, PLLC, play therapy is a developmentally attuned, trauma-informed approach that supports children in building emotional regulation, relational safety, and self-expression through play.
Our play therapy services integrate Child-Centered, Adlerian, attachment-based, trauma-informed, and neuroscience-informed frameworks to help children feel safe, understood, and empowered as they heal and grow.
Child-Centered & Integrative Play Therapy
Honoring the Child’s Inner World
Children communicate through toys, stories, movement, and imagination. Play therapy provides a secure, symbolic space where children naturally express emotions, fears, and needs without being forced to verbalize them.
Tracking, Reflection & Emotional Language
Through careful observation, emotional reflection, and thematic tracking, therapists help children feel deeply seen and understood. This strengthens emotional awareness, self-expression, and internal organization.
Facilitating Meaningful Change Through Play
As children play, they rehearse new ways of relating, regulating, and problem-solving. Over time, play becomes a bridge from internal distress to emotional growth and resilience.
Family-Informed & Attachment-Focused Care
Seeing the Whole System
Children do not struggle in isolation. Play therapy is informed by family systems and attachment theory, recognizing that emotional patterns are shaped by relationships, transitions, and stressors within the child’s world.
Supporting Secure Attachment
Caregiver Collaboration
Neurobiologically Informed & Trauma-Responsive Practice
Regulating the Nervous System Through Play
Trauma-Sensitive Without Forcing Disclosure
Building Capacity for Emotional Integration
— Our Team
Play Therapy That Meets Your Child Where They Are
Our play therapy services are devised to support children through emotional, behavioral, relational, and developmental challenges in a way that feels safe, respectful, and developmentally appropriate.
We ensure that our therapy practices are unique to your child’s nervous system, culture, family context, and stage of development
Karan Turnquist
LCSW, RPT-S Founder & Clinical Director
Stay Tuned — Our Team is Growing.
have Questions? We’re Here to Listen.
Explore these frequently asked questions to gain more clarity, comfort & confidence in your next step.
What is play therapy, and who is it for?
Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate form of psychotherapy for children and preadolescents that uses play as the primary means of communication and healing. Often described as “toys are the child’s words, and play is the child’s language,” play therapy helps children express emotions, process experiences, and build coping skills in ways that feel natural and safe.
At Mindful State Therapy Services, PLLC, we provide infant mental health support for children ages 0– 3, primarily through collaboration with parents and caregivers and caregiver-child groups. Conventional child-centered, trauma-informed play therapy approaches are typically used for children ages 3 and up.
Through carefully selected toys, art materials, movement, and expressive activities, children can work through difficult emotions, trauma, family changes, and behavioral challenges in a supportive therapeutic environment.
How does play therapy help my child?
Play therapy helps children express feelings they may not yet have the words for, process overwhelming experiences (such as trauma, loss, or family changes), develop emotional regulation skills, improve social behavior, and build confidence. Because children communicate most naturally through play rather than conversation, therapy is to meet them exactly where they are emotionally and developmentally. As quoted by Dr. Garry L. Landreth, “Toys are the child’s words, and play is the child’s language.” \
Through the therapeutic process, children can safely explore emotions, strengthen coping skills, reduce anxiety, and increase engagement in healing and connection.
Will I know what happens in my child’s play therapy sessions?
Your involvement as a parent or caregiver is an important part of the play therapy process. While the specific content of sessions remains confidential to protect your child’s therapeutic space, your therapist will provide regular updates on your child’s progress, themes emerging in therapy, and recommendations for how you can support their growth at home. Parental consultations are a key component of our approach.
How long does play therapy take to show results?
Every child’s journey is unique. Some children show noticeable shifts within 8–12 sessions, while others benefit from longer-term support, particularly when addressing complex trauma or developmental challenges. Your child’s therapist will share observations on their progress throughout the process and adjust the approach as needed. Consistency and a warm, trusting relationship with the therapist are key factors in effective play therapy.
Is play therapy appropriate for children who have experienced trauma?
Absolutely. Play therapy is one of the most widely recommended interventions for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, neglect, or adverse childhood experiences. Our clinicians are trained in trauma-informed, relationship-based play therapy and hold to the principle that safe relationships are the most powerful agents of healing. As Dr. Bruce Perry reminds us, ‘The more healthy relationships a child has, the more likely he will be to recover from trauma and thrive.’
Therapy Shaped by Presence and Intention
Therapy Shaped by Therapy Shaped by Safety, Play, and Presence
Healing begins when a child feels safe enough to be themselves. Whether your child is navigating anxiety, behavioral changes, trauma, or emotional overwhelm, we are here to support their journey with care and intention.