based in Austin, TX

Family & Play Therapy

For children, teens, and families

We believe your child deserves age-appropriate, nurturing, and specialized support.

When a child experiences a big life change or loss, you often see the impacts in their behavior: acting out, regressing, panicking, or isolating. They struggle to know how to communicate with their words, so it comes out in other ways. They need ways to share and process their experiences that don’t involve a stiff couch and Q&A.

Because they need to express themselves differently.

That’s where we come in.

We understand the unique challenges that children, adolescents, and families face when coping with loss and trauma. Our therapeutic approach combines the power of play therapy and family systems therapy techniques to create a safe and nurturing environment for healing and growth. We’re here to support you, your child, and your family in a space that feels warm, inviting, and supported.

Play Therapy

Play therapy allows children and adolescents to express themselves in the language they know best: play. Through play, they can communicate thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a non-verbal and non-threatening way. This creative and interactive approach can include things like games, art, or music to support clients in exploring their inner world, building resilience, and finding adaptive ways to cope with grief and trauma.

Our team of compassionate and experienced therapists has undergone specialized training in play therapy techniques, enabling them to connect with children and adolescents in a way that fosters trust and encourages expression.

Family systems therapy

Each of us is part of a network of relationships to others: caregivers, siblings, family members, and more. This network, or “system,” is very important during childhood and adolescent development, especially when navigating experiences related to grief and trauma. In family systems therapy, we honor that entire system by equipping not just one person, but the whole unit, with the skills and insight they need to support one another and move forward in healthy and productive ways.

Family therapy sessions provide a safe space for open communication, fostering understanding, and strengthening family bonds. By involving the entire family in the therapeutic process, we aim to create a supportive network that nurtures the healing journey for all family members.

things we can help with

We’re here to guide your child through grief, trauma, and other challenges related to:

  • Divorce or separation

  • Loss of a parent, family member, or friend

  • Loss of a pet

  • Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event

  • Medical trauma

  • Medical diagnoses, including cancer

  • Behavioral challenges or regressions

  • Bullying and other school concerns

Children and adolescents experience life differently. 

Shouldn’t their therapy reflect that, too?

Frequently asked questions about play therapy & family systems therapy

FAQs

  • It depends! We tailor our engagement with your child based on their interests, age, and needs, which starts with taking the time to get to know and build rapport with them.

    Then, we provide a wide range of carefully selected toys, art materials, and other creative resources that allow our young clients to freely explore their thoughts and emotions. This unstructured play provides an opportunity for them to work through difficult experiences, gain a sense of control, and develop healthy coping strategies.

  • Our goal is to offer your child a place where they can process all of their feelings—even the ones of sadness, anger, and confusion they may not have been able to communicate elsewhere. This promotes healthy grieving and emotional growth.

    As your child begins to explore their emotions related to the changes and difficulties they’ve experienced, their therapist will support them in adjusting and adapting to the new dynamics, relationships, and situations that they are facing. They’ll learn to reduce anxiety, improve emotional regulation, and develop greater resilience. This leads to greater self-esteem and self-confidence.

  • We believe that collaboration with caregivers is critical to your child reaching their goals for therapy. Your therapist will regularly update you on the progress being made during sessions, and depending on the age of your child, you may also be invited into sessions. Your therapist will discuss this with you in more detail as they start working with your child and your family.

  • Our therapists are trained in facilitating discussion in a way that helps each member of your family unit feel seen, heard, and understood. Each person will have opportunities to express themselves and their perspectives.

    Your therapist will help to open up communication pathways, encourage healthy conflict resolution, and facilitate development of healthy, productive, and age-appropriate communication strategies that you can start putting into action at home and in daily life.

  • Click this link to schedule a free consultation with us. We’ll answer your questions and you can decide if Blue Note is the right place for you on this journey. If you’re interested in working with a specific therapist on our team, you’ll have the opportunity to indicate that so you can be connected directly with them for your consultation.