Play Therapy for Children in Greenville, SC
A Safe Place for Children to Feel Seen, Heard & Understood
Children don't always have the words for what they're feeling, but their hearts often find other ways to speak.
A child may come to therapy when emotions feel too big, life feels uncertain, or they are struggling with changes, anxiety, friendships, school, family, grief, or experiences that have left them feeling overwhelmed or alone.
Through play, connection, and gentle guidance, therapy offers children a safe place to express what words cannot always say, to feel understood, build confidence, discover their strengths, and gently grow into who they are becoming.
I help young people navigate emotions and experiences that can feel difficult to carry, including anxiety, sadness, big emotions, low self-esteem, grief, family changes, friendship struggles, school stress, identity and belonging, and the impact of difficult or traumatic experiences.
Through play, connection, and compassionate support, I create a space where young people can feel safe, understood, and empowered to find their voice, discover their strengths, and grow into who they are becoming.
When Your Child May Need Extra Support
Sometimes children feel deeply but don't yet have the words to explain what is happening inside.
Therapy can offer a gentle, judgment-free space where they don't have to find the "right" words or have everything figured out. Through conversation, creativity, and play, I make room for their feelings to unfold naturally, helping them feel seen, understood, and safe enough to begin expressing what their hearts may be carrying.
When your child is struggling, it can be hard to know what they need or how to help. You may notice changes in their mood, behavior, confidence, or the way they connect with others and wonder what might be underneath it all.
At Becoming Therapy of Greenville, I believe every child has a story waiting to be understood. Sometimes that story comes through words; sometimes through play, creativity, silence, or simply the way they show up.
Therapy offers a gentle, nurturing space where your child can feel safe enough to be themselves, find their voice, and make sense of what they're carrying.
With gentle guidance and a safe place to land, I listen for the feelings beneath the words, nurture the strengths already within them, and make room for their confidence to bloom. Little by little, they can begin to trust their voice, embrace who they are, and discover the person they are becoming.
Helping Children Build Confidence, Connection & Belonging
Trust takes time, tenderness, and a safe place to simply be.
At Becoming Therapy of Greenville, I meet each child where they are through listening, play, creativity, and genuine connection. Together, we create a space for their voice to unfold, their confidence to grow, and their own becoming to begin.
Working with children is different because they are still discovering who they are and learning how to make sense of their emotions, relationships, and the world around them.
Their experiences may not always come through in words. Sometimes they show up through play, creativity, behavior, silence, or simply the need to feel safe with another person.
I meet kids where they are developmentally, emotionally, and relationally. I adjust the pace, language, and way we connect to fit who they are rather than asking them to fit into the therapy process.
Through play, conversation, creativity, and gentle curiosity, we create space for them to express what they may not yet know how to say.
Safety, belonging, confidence, and connection are at the heart of my work. I create a gentle space where children can feel seen, heard, and accepted so they can explore their emotions, find their voice, and build confidence.
When a young person feels safe and knows they belong, they can begin to discover the strength in who they are and who they are becoming. My hope is that each young person feels seen, heard, and accepted exactly as they are while gently discovering their own voice, strengths, and sense of self.
Therapy becomes a safe place where they can grow into who they are becoming, one small step at a time.
Partnering With Parents & Families
At Becoming Therapy of Greenville, parents are an important part of a child’s journey. I believe therapy works best when we create a supportive circle around the young person.
I keep parents informed about meaningful themes, progress, and ways they can support their child while honoring the child's need for privacy and a trusting space. From the beginning, I clarify what can remain private and what must be shared for safety, creating a balance where parents feel included and young people feel respected, heard, and safe enough to be themselves.
Parents may participate in some sessions when it would support the child’s progress.
Families can also support progress outside of therapy by creating a calm, encouraging environment where the child feels heard and accepted. Small, consistent actions such as listening without immediately offering solutions, noticing effort, practicing coping strategies, maintaining predictable routines, and celebrating progress can reinforce the work happening in therapy.
Reasons Kids May Come to Therapy
Therapy may provide support for children experiencing:
Anxiety or depression
Trauma or difficult experiences
Grief and loss
Low self-esteem or confidence
ADHD
Family conflict or changes
Difficulty expressing emotions
Relationship or friendship struggles
Cultural identity and belonging
Major life transitions
Bullying or peer conflict
Shame
Play Therapy for Children Ages 5 & Up
Play therapy gives children a way to express and explore feelings through play when words may not yet feel easy or possible.
Through toys, creativity, stories, and imagination, children can communicate experiences, emotions, and worries in a language that feels natural to them. Sometimes, what a child cannot say out loud can gently emerge through the way they play.
Play gives children a language of their own, allowing them to process emotions and begin to heal at a pace that feels safe for them.
A play therapy session may look like play, but beneath the play is meaningful connection and exploration. Children are given a safe, welcoming space to choose, create, imagine, and express themselves at their own pace.
Through play, I gently follow their lead, listen to what they are communicating, and help them make sense of feelings and experiences that may be difficult to put into words. It is a space where they can simply be themselves and begin to discover new ways of coping, connecting, and becoming.
I typically use play therapy with children ages 5 and up, adapting the approach to each child's developmental and emotional needs. As children grow, play may naturally become more conversational, creative, or expressive, allowing therapy to meet them right where they are.
I follow their lead, creating a space where they can express what may be difficult to say and feel safe as they discover who they are becoming. I have so much passion for this work and for helping children heal, grow, and become.
How to Get Started With Child Therapy
1. Reach Out
Contact me to schedule a complimentary consultation. This is a chance to briefly share what brings you to therapy, ask questions, and see if we may be a good fit.
2. Schedule Your First Appointment
Once we decide to move forward, we'll schedule your child's first therapy session and complete the necessary paperwork before we meet. Paperwork can also be completed at the first appointment.
3. Begin Where You Are
The first session is not about having all the answers. We'll gently talk about what has been happening, what you hope will change, and what you would like support with for your child and family.
Together, we'll begin creating a path that feels meaningful and manageable for you and your child.
If Your Child or Teen Is Coming to Therapy
When working with children, I believe parents are an important part of the process while also honoring the young person's need for privacy and trust.
For younger children, I typically begin by meeting with the parent or caregiver first. This gives us an opportunity to talk about what you have been noticing, your concerns, your child's history, and what you hope therapy can provide.
Then, when appropriate, I meet with your child individually so we can begin building our own relationship and creating a space where they can feel safe.
Taking the first step toward therapy does not have to feel overwhelming. At Becoming Therapy of Greenville, I begin by creating a space where you can feel welcomed, heard, and comfortable being exactly where you are.
How to Get Started With Child & Teen Therapy
You Don't Have to Have All the Answers
Taking the first step toward therapy does not have to feel overwhelming. At Becoming Therapy of Greenville, I begin by creating a space where you can feel welcomed, heard, and comfortable being exactly where you are. When your child is struggling, it can be hard to know what to say or where to begin. You don't have to have all the answers.
Reaching out can simply be the first gentle step toward creating a space where your child feels safe, understood, and free to become who they are meant to be.
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For children and teens, the first session may include conversation, observation, creative activities, or play, depending on their age and developmental needs.
Sometimes children communicate through play what is difficult to put into words.
There is no perfect way to begin therapy. You simply come as you are, and we begin there.
Your story and your child's story do not have to be perfectly organized before you walk through the door. There is space for you and your child here.
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Finding the right therapist for your child is about more than credentials. It is about finding someone your child can feel safe with, understood by, and comfortable becoming themselves around.
During our initial conversations, I listen carefully to what you are noticing, learn about your child's needs and personality, and consider whether my approach and experience are a good match for what your child is experiencing.
I also believe that your child's relationship with their therapist matters deeply. Trust takes time, and I give children and teens space to develop that trust at their own pace.
Sometimes the right fit becomes clear immediately. Other times, it unfolds slowly as a relationship begins to grow.
The goal is not simply to find a therapist for your child. It is to find a safe person who can walk alongside them as they discover their voice, build confidence, and find their way forward.
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Children and teens often take their cues from us. If therapy is presented as something scary, something they have to do, or something that means there is something wrong with them, they may arrive feeling worried or resistant.
Instead, keep the conversation simple, honest, and reassuring.
Most importantly, let your child know that therapy is not a punishment. It is a place where they can be curious, honest, frustrated, quiet, playful, or unsure and still be accepted.
They don't have to arrive knowing what to say. They can simply come as they are. We can begin there.
I look forward to meeting and working with your child.