What is play therapy and how does it help children?

Play therapy is a specialized form of child therapy that helps children express emotions through play rather than words. A trained child therapist may use toys, art, games, sand tray work, and storytelling to help children process anxiety, trauma, behavior challenges, grief, family changes, and big emotions in a safe, developmentally appropriate way.

How do I know if my child needs therapy?

Child therapy may be helpful if a child is experiencing ongoing anxiety, emotional outbursts, aggression, withdrawal, school struggles, sleep changes, low self-esteem, social difficulties, or behavioral changes after stress, trauma, grief, divorce, or major life transitions. A child therapist can help assess what may be going on and recommend the right support.

What is the difference between child therapy and play therapy?

Child therapy is the broader term for counseling services that support children’s emotional, behavioral, and mental health. Play therapy is one type of child therapy that uses play, creativity, and developmentally appropriate tools to help children express feelings, process experiences, and build coping skills.

Do parents attend child therapy sessions?

Parents usually attend the initial intake session and remain involved throughout the therapy process. Depending on the child’s needs, parents may receive updates, parent guidance, family sessions, or practical strategies to support progress at home and school.

What ages do you work with?

The Counseling Corner’s child therapists commonly work with children ages 3–12 using developmentally appropriate child counseling and play therapy approaches. For older children and adolescents, The Counseling Corner also offers teen therapy services.

How long does child therapy usually last?

The length of child therapy depends on the child’s age, goals, symptoms, family involvement, and the challenges being addressed. Many children attend weekly sessions for several months, with progress reviewed regularly and treatment adjusted as needed.

Can child therapy help with behavior problems?

Child therapy can help children develop emotional regulation, coping skills, communication skills, and healthier responses to frustration. When behavior challenges are connected to anxiety, ADHD, trauma, family stress, or difficulty expressing emotions, therapy can help children and parents better understand and respond to those needs.

Do you offer child therapy near me if I live outside Orlando?

The Counseling Corner offers in-person child therapy in Orlando, Clermont, and Orange City, as well as online child counseling throughout Florida. Families in Central Florida and across the state can contact the practice to discuss the best option for their child.

Child & Play Therapy in Orlando, FL

Expert Child Counseling & Play Therapy Services Since 1998

When your child is struggling with anxiety, big emotions, behavior challenges, school stress, or difficult life changes, it can be hard to know what to do next. You may see your child acting out, shutting down, worrying constantly, or having trouble expressing what they feel.

At The Counseling Corner, our licensed child therapists provide compassionate, developmentally appropriate child counseling and play therapy in Orlando, helping children feel safe, understood, and more confident as they learn to work through emotional and behavioral challenges.

Call to Schedule

We offer:

In-person child therapy in Orlando, Clermont, and Orange City
Online child counseling available throughout Florida
Play therapy for children ages 3–12
Parent guidance and family-inclusive support
Care for anxiety, ADHD, trauma, behavior concerns, grief, divorce, and emotional regulation

Helping Children Feel Understood, Supported, and Empowered

Watching your child struggle can feel overwhelming. Maybe your child is having frequent meltdowns, becoming more anxious, withdrawing from family or friends, refusing school, acting aggressively, or having trouble talking about what is wrong.

At The Counseling Corner, our child therapists in Orlando specialize in helping children express what they may not yet have the words to explain. Through child counseling, play therapy, and parent support, we help children build emotional awareness, coping skills, confidence, and healthier ways of communicating.

For over 25 years, families across Orlando and Central Florida have trusted The Counseling Corner for child therapy and play therapy that is warm, professional, and grounded in real clinical experience.

Our goal is to help your child feel better, function better, and live better, at home, at school, and in relationships.

What Is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a specialized form of child therapy that helps children express emotions, process experiences, and develop coping skills through play.

Children often do not communicate the same way adults do. They may not have the language to explain anxiety, sadness, anger, confusion, grief, or fear. Play gives children a natural way to communicate what is happening inside.

In play therapy, a trained child therapist may use toys, art, games, sand tray work, storytelling, and other age-appropriate tools to help children safely explore emotions and work through challenges.

Our Orlando play therapists may integrate approaches such as:

Child-Centered Play Therapy — helps children build trust, emotional awareness, confidence, and self-expression.
Directive Play Therapy — supports specific goals such as reducing anxiety, improving behavior, processing trauma, or building coping skills.
Sand Tray Therapy — helps children express experiences and emotions through symbols, stories, and creative play.
Theraplay® and Family Play Therapy — strengthens attachment, connection, and parent-child relationships.

Play therapy is not “just playing.” It is a purposeful, therapeutic process that helps children communicate, heal, and grow in ways that fit their developmental stage.

Child Therapy for Anxiety, Behavior & Emotional Challenges

Families often search for a child therapist near me when something at home, school, or within the child’s emotional life begins to feel unmanageable. Child therapy can help when your child is struggling with:

Anxiety, worry, fears, or separation concerns
Emotional outbursts, meltdowns, or frequent anger
Behavioral challenges, aggression, or impulsivity
ADHD and attention-related difficulties
Trauma, abuse, or PTSD symptoms
Grief, divorce, blended family stress, or major life transitions
School stress, bullying, or academic struggles
Low self-esteem or confidence issues
Social skills or peer relationship challenges
Difficulty communicating feelings
Parent-child conflict or family stress

Each child receives a personalized treatment plan based on their age, personality, emotional needs, family context, and treatment goals.

For some children, therapy focuses on emotional expression and regulation. For others, therapy may focus on anxiety reduction, coping tools, behavioral support, trauma healing, or strengthening family communication.

What Happens in Child Therapy?

Child therapy usually begins with a parent intake session. This gives the therapist time to understand your concerns, your child’s history, family dynamics, school challenges, and what you hope therapy will help improve.

From there, your child’s sessions may include play therapy, art, games, conversation, emotional regulation tools, coping skills practice, or other developmentally appropriate approaches.

In therapy, children may learn to:

Understand and express emotions safely
Develop coping and problem-solving skills
Build emotional regulation
Improve confidence and self-esteem
Process stress, trauma, grief, or major changes
Strengthen communication at home and school
Practice healthier ways of responding to frustration
Feel more secure and supported

Parents are an important part of the process. Depending on your child’s needs, you may receive regular updates, parent guidance, family sessions, or practical tools to support progress outside of therapy.

Our goal is not only to help your child feel better during sessions, but to help your family experience more peace, connection, and confidence at home.

When Should You Consider a Child Therapist?

Many parents wonder whether their child’s behavior is “just a phase” or whether it may be time to talk with a child therapist.

Therapy may be helpful if your child is showing ongoing changes in mood, behavior, sleep, appetite, school performance, social connection, or emotional regulation.

You may want to consider child counseling if your child is:

Having frequent emotional outbursts
Seeming anxious, fearful, or overwhelmed
Avoiding school, activities, or social situations
Becoming unusually withdrawn or quiet
Acting aggressively or impulsively
Struggling after divorce, grief, trauma, or family stress
Having difficulty sleeping or separating from parents
Showing sudden changes in behavior or personality
Having trouble making or keeping friends
Struggling with ADHD, attention, or frustration tolerance

Early support can make a meaningful difference. Child therapy gives children a safe space to process what they are experiencing and gives parents guidance for how to support them more effectively.

Why Families Choose The Counseling Corner for Child Therapy

The Counseling Corner has served families in Orlando and Central Florida since 1998. Our team brings decades of clinical experience to child counseling, play therapy, family support, ADHD-informed care, trauma therapy, and emotional development.

Families choose us because we offer:

Licensed child therapists with extensive experience
Evidence-based child counseling and play therapy approaches
Warm, family-inclusive care
Support for both children and parents
In-person therapy in Orlando, Clermont, and Orange City
Online child counseling options across Florida
Experience with anxiety, ADHD, trauma, grief, family transitions, and behavior concerns
A compassionate environment where children can feel safe and understood

If you are searching for child therapy near me, child therapist Orlando, child counseling Orlando, or play therapy Orlando, our team is here to help your child and family take the next step.

Nationally Recognized Leadership in Child & Play Therapy

Our expertise in child therapy extends beyond the therapy room.

Dr. Ernest W. Reilly, LCSW, Founder and Executive Director of The Counseling Corner, is the founder of the Central Florida chapter of the Association for Play Therapy (APT) and the founder of the Central Florida chapter of CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder).

These leadership roles reflect decades of commitment to evidence-based play therapy, child counseling, and ADHD-informed care, and reinforce our standing as a trusted authority in child mental health throughout Central Florida.

Why Families Trust The Counseling Corner

Licensed child therapists with decades of experience
Evidence-based child counseling & play therapy approaches
Family-inclusive care that supports parents and caregivers
Trusted in Orlando since 1998
In-person and online child therapy options for flexibility

If you’re searching for child therapy near me, play therapy Orlando, or child counseling in Central Florida, our team is here to help.

Your Orlando Child Therapy Team

Dr. Ernest W. Reilly, LCSW – Founder & Executive Director
Amanda Riendeau, LCSW, LISW, LICSW-S – Child & Family Therapist
Andreina Bello, LMHC – Bilingual English and Spanish Child Therapist
Michael Bombka, LMHC – Child and Family Therapist (Orange City / DeLand / Sanford / DeBary)

Our therapists work with children and families using developmentally appropriate, compassionate, and evidence-based approaches.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

Early intervention makes a lasting difference in a child’s emotional health. Our goal is to help your child feel calmer, more confident, and better equipped to handle big feelings — and to help home feel more peaceful and connected.

📞 Call:407-843-4968
📧 Email:info@counselingcorner.net
🗓️ Contact Us: Use our inquiry form

📍 Serving families in Orlando, Clermont, Orange City / DeLand, and online throughout Florida.

Child Therapy & Play Therapy FAQs

Play therapy is a specialized form of child therapy that helps children express emotions through play rather than words. A trained child therapist may use toys, art, games, sand tray work, and storytelling to help children process anxiety, trauma, behavior challenges, grief, family changes, and big emotions in a safe, developmentally appropriate way.
Child therapy may be helpful if your child is experiencing ongoing anxiety, emotional outbursts, aggression, withdrawal, school struggles, sleep changes, low self-esteem, social difficulties, or behavioral changes after stress, trauma, grief, divorce, or major life transitions. A child therapist can help assess what may be going on and recommend the right support.
Child therapy is the broader term for counseling services that support children’s emotional, behavioral, and mental health. Play therapy is one type of child therapy that uses play, creativity, and developmentally appropriate tools to help children express feelings, process experiences, and build coping skills.
Parents usually attend the initial intake session and remain involved throughout the therapy process. Depending on the child’s needs, parents may receive updates, parent guidance, family sessions, or practical strategies to support progress at home and school.
Our child therapists commonly work with children ages 3–12 using developmentally appropriate child counseling and play therapy approaches. For older children and adolescents, The Counseling Corner also offers teen therapy services.
The length of child therapy depends on your child’s age, goals, symptoms, family involvement, and the challenges being addressed. Many children attend weekly sessions for several months, with progress reviewed regularly and treatment adjusted as needed.
Yes. Child therapy can help children develop emotional regulation, coping skills, communication skills, and healthier responses to frustration. When behavior challenges are connected to anxiety, ADHD, trauma, family stress, or difficulty expressing emotions, therapy can help children and parents better understand and respond to those needs.
Yes. The Counseling Corner offers in-person child therapy in Orlando, Clermont, and Orange City, as well as online child counseling throughout Florida. Families in Central Florida and across the state can contact us to discuss the best option for their child.