Therapuetic Play

Therapeutic Play, Sand Tray Therapy, Therapeutic Art, and Sensory Play Sessions 

At The Kids Counsellor, I believe that play, creativity, and sensory exploration are not just “extras” — they are powerful ways children heal, learn, and grow.
Children often don’t have the words yet to explain what they’re feeling inside, but through therapeutic play, art, and sensory experiences, they show us their world.
It’s through these natural, gentle methods that we can support them in building emotional regulation, confidence, and resilience.

Each session is tailored to your child’s needs, their personality, and their preferred ways of communicating and connecting — creating a space where they can truly flourish.

Therapeutic Play 

Play is a child’s natural language—it’s how they make sense of the world, express big feelings, and process their experiences.
Therapeutic play sessions offer children a safe space where they can explore, express, and work through what’s going on inside without needing to sit down and "talk it out" like adults do.

Using toys, games, role play, storytelling, puppetry, and imagination, your child leads the way at their own pace.
Therapeutic play can help children:

• Express and regulate big emotions

• Build confidence and emotional strength

• Develop problem-solving and social skills

• Process worries, fears, or past experiences safely

Every session is guided by your child’s interests, offering support in a way that feels natural, playful, and respectful of who they are.

Sand Tray Therapy

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Sand has a magical way of inviting children to slow down, focus, and express themselves without pressure.
Sandtray therapeutic play uses miniatures, figurines, and sensory exploration in the sand to help children tell stories, process emotions, and work through challenges that might feel too big or confusing to talk about directly.

In a sandtray session, your child might:

• Create worlds that reflect their feelings and experiences

• Act out solutions to problems

• Explore fears, hopes, and memories in a safe, hands-on way

• Build emotional awareness and self-expression

It’s a calming, grounding, and incredibly powerful way for children to connect with their inner world — all while feeling safe and supported.

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Therapeutic Art 

Sometimes a paintbrush, a crayon, or a lump of clay can say what words cannot.
Therapeutic art sessions allow children to express complex emotions creatively and safely, without the pressure to "explain" everything verbally.

Through drawing, painting, sculpting, collage, and other creative outlets, children can:

• Explore and express feelings in a visual, symbolic way

• Build self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment

• Process experiences like grief, anxiety, trauma, or change

• Boost emotional regulation and resilience

Art-based therapeutic sessions are not about making “perfect” art — they’re about creating a safe, supportive space for emotional growth, healing, and self-discovery.

Sensory Play Sessions 

Children experience the world through their senses, and for many kids, sensory input is vital for emotional regulation and wellbeing.
Sensory play sessions at The Kids Counsellor are designed to help children connect with their bodies, regulate their nervous systems, and discover calming strategies that feel good and empowering.

Sensory play may involve:

• Tactile activities (like sand, playdough, rice, beads, kinetic sand)

• Movement activities (swings, balance boards, yoga-inspired stretches)

• Calming sensory tools (weighted blankets, fidgets, cozy corners)

• Visual relaxation tools (bubble tubes, lava lamps)

Sensory play builds:

• Emotional regulation skills

• Body awareness and interoception

• Focus and attention

• Resilience to sensory overwhelm

These sessions are particularly wonderful for children who are sensory seekers, sensory avoiders, or just need a safe, fun way to reconnect with themselves through touch, movement, and exploration.

Therapeutic Support That Feels Natural 

At The Kids Counsellor, counselling doesn’t have to look like "therapy."
It might look like building a world in the sand, painting a story, swinging while sharing a laugh, or quietly molding playdough side-by-side.
Whatever form it takes, the goal is always the same: to create a space where your child feels seen, supported, empowered, and safe to grow.

Whether your child is working through anxiety, big feelings, trauma, neuro-divergence, or simply needs a place to reconnect with their own strengths, our therapeutic play, art, sandtray, and sensory sessions meet them exactly where they are.

Ready to explore?
Reach out for a 15-minute obligation-free chat — I’d love to hear your story and talk about how we can support your child together.