COUNSELING IN SOUTH AUSTIN & ONLINE ACROSS TX
Helping children through the power of play.
You’re seeking a therapist that has the tools and training to create effective change.
We’re here to help.
Seeking therapy for your child can feel overwhelming. Parenting is filled with joy and meaning—but also complex challenges, as we navigate our own emotions, needs, and hopes alongside those of our children. At Mindful Connections Counseling, we have deep compassion for parents working to support their children and strive to make therapy a positive experience for the entire family.
We specialize in high-quality play therapy for children 12 years old and younger. As children grow into their teenage years, we adapt our approach to reflect their developmental stage and interests. For teens, this may include more structured, collaborative sessions that incorporate expressive arts and goal-oriented activities.
Our goal in working with children and adolescents is to foster deep understanding, meaningful connection, and emotional growth. We maintain regular communication with parents and caregivers to support the family system as a whole.
What is Play Therapy?
“Play Therapy is based upon the fact that play is the child’s natural medium of self-expression. It is an opportunity which is given to the child to ‘play out’ his feelings and problems just as, in certain types of adult therapy, an individual ‘talks out’ his difficulties.”
– Virginia Axline
Play therapy is the most developmentally appropriate form of therapy for children. Children under the age of 12 are still developing abstract reasoning skills and often lack the vocabulary and cognitive capacity needed for traditional talk therapy. Through play therapy, children engage with familiar toys and games—but in the presence of a trained therapist, their play becomes a powerful tool for connection, self-awareness, and emotional regulation.
At Mindful Connections Counseling, our therapists have received specialized training in play therapy during graduate school and continue to pursue ongoing professional development in this field. Using facilitative responses, we help children make meaning of their play, recognize the needs underlying their behaviors, and better understand their emotions. Our play therapy rooms are thoughtfully designed and equipped with specific categories of toys—such as doctor kits, emergency vehicles, and dollhouses—that allow children to safely explore and process real-life experiences.
In our playrooms, you’ll find the following categories of toys:
Real Life & Nuturing Toys
Doll house, kitchen set, cash register, medical set, puppets, animal families, & more
Fantasy & Scary Toys
Scary/aggressive puppets like sharks & alligators, swords, handcuffs, toy soldiers, bop bag, & more
Creative Expression & Emotional Release Toys
Sand, paints craft materials,
music instruments, dress up clothes, legos, & more
Sensory Toys
Fdgets, sensory swing,
kinetic sand, balance board, sensory pod, trampoline, & more
How does play therapy work?
Your child’s therapy journey begins with a parent intake session. This initial, parent-only meeting lasts 60 to 90 minutes and is an essential first step in building a strong therapeutic foundation. During this session, you’ll meet with your child’s play therapist to:
Begin developing a collaborative relationship with you as a parent & review intake forms and clarify your goals for your child’s therapy.
Share background information about your child and family history.
Highlight your child’s strengths and unique qualities.
Discuss what to expect during the early stages of therapy. This conversation helps us gain a deeper understanding of your child’s needs and sets the stage for a supportive and personalized therapeutic process.
Review how the beginning phase of play therapy sessions will look like for your child.
Following the parent intake session, your child will begin play therapy sessions. For children, play is more than just fun—it’s how they make sense of their world. Just as adults use words to communicate, children use toys to tell stories, express emotions, and work through challenges. During play therapy, your child might reenact a moment from school, act out a scary or confusing experience, or create scenes that express their needs or wishes. These experiences are meaningful—and often healing. All of this unfolds in the presence of a play therapist, who is specifically equipped to understand and respond to the emotional themes within your child’s play.
What is the play therapist's role?
Your child’s play therapist offers something truly unique: a relationship grounded in unconditional acceptance, deep empathy, and genuine respect. We follow your child’s lead throughout the course of therapy, while also incorporating directive activities when appropriate, based on treatment goals and the therapist’s training.
The goal is not to “fix” your child, but to create an environment in which growth and healing naturally occur. Through play, the therapist reflects your child’s feelings, helps them develop emotional awareness, and supports their ability to make choices and solve problems—all through play. In this space, your child begins to see themselves as capable, understood, and valued worthy – just as they are.
What is the cadence of play therapy?
While we deeply value the children and families we work with, our goal is for your child to graduate from therapy. Together, we regularly assess your child’s progress during parent sessions. We determine the appropriate timing for ending therapy based on meaningful progress—not only in the playroom, but also at home and at school. According to research from the Association for Play Therapy (APT), “it takes an average of 20 play therapy sessions to resolve the problems of the typical child referred for treatment.” That said, every child’s therapeutic journey is unique. We are committed to being transparent and communicative with you every step of the way.
What is my role as a parent?
“Children do not need us to shape them. They need us to respond to who they are.”
Parents are an essential part of the therapeutic process. At Mindful Connections Counseling, we believe that meaningful change happens not only in the playroom, but also in everyday moments at home, school, and beyond. You have daily opportunities to reinforce and extend the skills your child is developing in sessions. To support this, we include regular parent consultations as a core part of our treatment plan—ensuring your child receives well-rounded, informed, and consistent care. We also frequently collaborate with other professionals in your child’s life, such as school counselors, psychologists, teachers, and other mental health providers. This team-based approach helps us gain a fuller understanding of your child’s needs and deliver the most effective support possible.
