Play Therapy
When big feelings or tough changes feel too heavy, play therapy gives children a safe, natural way to express themselves and begin healing through toys, stories, and imagination.
Offering in-person therapy in Brantford, Brant, Kitchener, Toronto, & Simcoe, and virtual therapy across Ontario to help kids:
NAME AND EXPRESS BIG FEELINGS
GAIN HEALTHIER COPING TOOLS
FEEL SAFE IN THEIR WORLD
When tantrums, silence, or tears are the language, how do you listen?
As parents, it can be hard to know what’s really going on when your child’s feelings show up in meltdowns, withdrawn moods, or constant worries. You try patience, comfort, or even discipline, but nothing seems to help for long. What you’re seeing on the outside is often your child’s way of saying something feels too big or too confusing to handle alone.
Play therapy creates a safe space for children to work through those feelings in the way that comes most naturally to them.
MINDFUL PATH COUNSELLING
Why Play Therapy?
There are many ways children show us they are struggling, even if they don’t always have the words to explain it. For example, some children may have frequent tantrums or meltdowns, while others may become very quiet or withdrawn. Sometimes it looks like worry at bedtime, trouble at school, or becoming easily frustrated with friends or family. These are all signs that a child’s inner world is feeling too heavy to manage on their own.
Play is one of the simplest and most natural ways for children to communicate. When we take time to observe a child in play, we can begin to understand more about their thoughts, their feelings, and how they see themselves and the world around them. In other words, play tells the story that words cannot.
This is where play-based counselling can make such a difference. Unlike talk therapy, which depends on conversation, play therapy meets children exactly where they are. Using toys, art, stories, and imagination, a play therapist helps guide the process in a way that feels natural and supportive. Through these therapeutic play techniques, children practice problem-solving, build confidence, and develop stronger emotional regulation for kids who may struggle to manage big feelings like anger, fear, or sadness.
The truth is, play therapy is not only about addressing problems in the moment. It is also about strengthening a child’s self-esteem, their confidence, and their ability to connect with others. Over time, children often begin to feel calmer, more resilient, and more capable of handling the challenges they face at home, in school, and in their relationships.
Healing begins not by pushing children to talk before they are ready, but by creating space for them to express themselves in the way that comes most naturally. And for children, that way is play.
What can play therapy help with?
Anxiety & Worry
Behavioural Challenges
Frequent tantrums, defiance, or acting out are often signs of deeper struggles. Through guided play, children learn healthier coping tools, emotional regulation, and better ways to express what they feel inside.
ADHD & Attention Difficulties
Trauma & PTSD
Grief & Loss
The death of a loved one, a pet, or even family changes like divorce can leave children confused and hurting. Play therapy helps them express sadness, ask questions, and carry their loss with comfort and support.
Low Self-Esteem
Social Difficulties & Bullying
Family Stress & Big Changes
Types of Play Therapy We Offer
Child-Centered Play Therapy
In child-centered therapy, the child leads the way. They choose what to play with and how to play, while the therapist provides a safe, supportive presence. This approach builds trust, emotional awareness, and resilience, giving kids space to process their experiences at their own pace.
Directive Play Therapy
Directive play therapy is more structured. The play therapist guides play with specific activities, games, or storytelling to target emotional regulation, reduce problem behaviours, and teach healthy coping strategies. This form of behavioural therapy for children can be especially effective when working on trauma, grief, or specific behavioural concerns.
About Us
Why Mindful Path Counselling
We believe in treating you as a whole person.
At Mindful Path Counselling, we take a wholistic approach on your path to well-being.
Whether you need someone to talk to alone, with your partner, or with your family, we have a range of counselling services to fit your needs and budget. We provide in-person, online sessions, phone appointment, in-home services, and psychiatric mental health assessments. Our diverse team includes skilled psychotherapists, social workers, life coaches, hypnotherapists, nurse practitioner, and more.
If you are struggling with general anxiety or a complex mental health challenge, we help people aged 5 and up find a welcoming and understanding place to land.
We’re more than just therapists, we’re a safe place to help you rediscover yourself.
Our approach
How Play Therapy Works
More than holistic health, we offer Wholistic Health
- We start with the family
Before sessions begin, we meet with parents or guardians to understand your child’s needs and get their perspective. We also involve the child in ways that help them feel comfortable and safe from the start.
- Therapy sessions
Your child attends weekly sessions with their therapist, where play becomes a vehicle for healing and learning. Depending on the approach, sessions may be fully child-led or gently guided toward specific goals.
- Ongoing support
Parents are part of the process too. With regular updates and guidance, you’ll gain tools to support your child’s emotional regulation and resilience at home.
We invite you and your child to stay as long as you need.
Our Team
Therapists who Offer Play Therapy
Get Matched
We believe the right therapist is crucial to the therapeutic process. Browse our team profiles or request to get matched. We’ll help you find the best therapist for your needs, goals, and preferences.
Questions About Play Therapy
What is play therapy, and how is it different from regular play?
What kinds of problems can it help with?
At what age is play therapy helpful?
Play therapy is most often used with children ages 3 to 12, but it can also be adapted for teens who benefit from creative, hands-on ways of working through their feelings. For younger children, child-centered therapy lets them lead the play, while Directive Play Therapy offers more guidance when specific goals like behaviour, trauma, or grief need support. Both give kids a safe, age-appropriate way to express themselves and build healthier coping skills.
How long does it take to see results?
Will I be involved in the process?
Still have questions?
Get in touch! Contact Us
Mindful Path Counselling
How life can feel after play therapy
Healing through play doesn’t happen all at once. It takes time, and it often unfolds gently, layer by layer, at a pace that’s comfortable for your child. With the right support, small shifts begin to build into lasting change. Over time, you may notice that your child is able to:
- Express feelings in healthier ways instead of bottling them up
- Find calm more easily when big emotions rise
- Feel more confident in themselves and their abilities
- Show fewer problem behaviours and more positive coping skills
- Connect more openly with family and friends
- Carry a stronger sense of safety, trust, and resilience
“Play is the language of childhood, and therapy is the bridge to growth.”
— Unknown
Mindful Path Counselling
How You Get Started
If you’re ready to get started, we’d love to hear from you! You can send us a message or call us. We will answer any questions you have and book you in for an appointment or free consultation.
You can also book online using the button below. Please note that not all of our therapists can be booked online.
Call Us (General)
226-208-2722
Email Us
info@mindfulpathcounselling.ca
If you have questions about therapy, our services, or anything else, send us a message! We’d love to hear from you.
