Child-Centered Play Therapy in McKinney, TX

Young boy in an orange shirt playing with a sandbox on a white table in a cozy room, surrounded by toys and shelves.

Children's play kitchen set with pink cabinets, toy stove, sink, and hanging utensils.

Person painting with colorful paints on a table, surrounded by paint bottles, brushes, and a canvas. They are wearing a plaid shirt.

Is This You?

Questions Parents Often Ask When Considering Play Therapy

It’s common for children to act out when they don’t have the tools to express their feelings. Child-Centered Play Therapy helps children learn how to manage emotions and behaviors through play, while also helping parents better understand their child’s needs. You don’t have to figure it out alone—support is available.
These behaviors are often a child’s way of saying something feels too big inside. In play therapy, children work through these emotions safely, learning to regulate their feelings in healthier ways. Over time, you'll likely see fewer outbursts and more calm.
Difficulties in social settings can stem from underlying stress, anxiety, or low self-confidence. Play therapy provides a space for children to build trust, process social challenges, and practice new skills—all while feeling accepted and supported.
Big life changes can feel confusing and scary to a child. In play therapy, children process these events in a way that feels natural and safe to them. It allows them to regain a sense of control and emotional security.
Children may not have the words to describe anxiety or self-doubt, but it often shows up in behavior or withdrawal. Through play, children explore their feelings in a non-threatening way, which helps them build self-awareness and confidence.

“Toys are children's words and play is their language” — Gary L. Landreth

Dr. Dee Ray provides an introduction to Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) for parents.

Dr. Dee Ray provides an introduction to Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) for children.

Child-Centered Play Therapy is a special kind of counseling designed just for young children, usually between the ages of 3 and 10, who may be struggling with things like big emotions, behavior problems, or difficulties in relationships with family or friends.

Instead of talking like adults do in therapy, children use play—which is their natural way of expressing themselves. In CCPT, specially trained play therapists create a safe and supportive space where children can work through their feelings using toys, art, and imagination.

What makes this kind of therapy unique is the relationship between the therapist and your child. The therapist offers your child complete acceptance, empathy, and understanding. This helps your child feel seen, heard, and emotionally supported—often for the first time in this way.

While it may look like your child is just playing, that play has deep meaning. Through play, children can express things they don’t have words for yet. Over time, you may notice positive changes—like fewer outbursts, improved behavior, better social skills, and more confidence.

CCPT is backed by research and uses the therapeutic powers of play to help children heal, grow, and thrive emotionally. It’s a gentle yet powerful approach to supporting your child’s mental health and overall well-being.