Play Therapy in Buda, Texas
Helping your child move from overwhelm and big emotions to confidence, connection, and better days.
Emotional, Behavioral, and School Challenges in Children
If your child is struggling — with emotions, behavior, school, or friendships — you’ve probably tried everything you can think of.
You’ve read the books, adjusted routines, and talked to teachers. But deep down, you’re still worried.
You just want your child to feel good about themselves, to enjoy being a kid, and to move through the day without constant conflict, stress, or meltdowns.
You want to move through the day without constant conflict, stress, or meltdowns.
Creative and Developmentally Appropriate Child Therapy
I offer thoughtful, holistic therapy for children — and support for parents, too.
Using developmentally appropriate and creative approaches like play therapy, sandtray, expressive arts, and bibliotherapy, I help kids feel safe enough to open up — and strong enough to grow. I also work closely with parents to keep you informed, involved, and supported every step of the way.
Therapy for Neurodivergent Children including ADHD
Supporting neurodiverse children is a deep part of my work and my life.
As a parent of neurodivergent (ADHD, autism, learning disabilities) kids myself, and someone who has worked closely with neurodiverse children in school settings, I understand how often these kids are misunderstood, labeled, or asked to fit into systems that weren’t designed for them.
This is an area I care deeply about — not just professionally, but personally.
In therapy, I honor your child’s unique wiring. Whether they’re navigating ADHD, sensory differences, autism, or another form of neurodivergence, they deserve support that sees their strengths, respects their pace, and gives them tools that actually work for them.
And I also support you — with tools, communication strategies, and parenting approaches that match your child’s needs, not fight against them.
Play Therapy for Children Ages 3 and Up
Foundation aspects of Play Therapy for Children ages 3+
CHOICE
The type of play therapy I do involves a lot of choice. This is such a change for many kids because oftentimes, kids are told what to do. During therapy, kids get a lot of experience making choices, which can lead to more self-control and confidence.
VALIDATION
Everyone benefits from being validated by others. Play therapy is full of validations of feelings, thoughts, and actions. Validation allows kids to feel truly seen just as they are, which fosters amazing feelings of connection!
ACCEPTANCE
It is easy for kids to feel as though they have to act a certain way to be accepted by teachers, peers, and even parents at times. The relationship between your child and therapist is one of complete acceptance, which helps your child learn to accept themselves.
VILLAGE
The saying that it takes a village to raise a child resonates with me even more now that my children are teenagers. Parenting is tough, and there is so much relief in knowing that there is another adult who loves and wants the best for your child.
PERSONALIZATION
The nature of child-directed play therapy, as well as integrative therapy, means that therapy time is spent working on what your child needs to work on. There is no set curriculum or set number of sessions.
PARTNERSHIP
Research shows how powerful it is for play therapy to include parent and/or family work. This makes sense since caregivers are so involved in their young child’s life. When you are working with me, you will be supported and helped so that you are more confident about your parenting decisions.
A Therapist Who Understands Kids and Families
Hi, I’m Janet, and I help families navigate the challenges of growing up with care, creativity, and support that fits.
I’ve been working with kids since I was a teenager, and I’ve always appreciated what a special time of life it is for them. They are becoming who they will be, and that is so important.
Before becoming a therapist, I was a teacher — and I’m also a parent to two teenagers myself. I understand how layered and emotional parenting can be. You're not just managing behavior; you’re experiencing deep love, frustration, uncertainty, and hope.
A big part of my work includes supporting children who are neurodivergent, as well as those navigating serious life changes, such as family transitions, grief, or early relationship wounds that may have made it harder for them to feel safe and connected.
These kids often show us what they’re carrying through behavior, not words, and I know how to meet them with patience, structure, and care.
And I keep parents in the loop — so you’re never left wondering what’s happening in the therapy room or how you can support your child at home.
Get in touch
Child and Play Therapy in Buda & Across Texas
You don’t have to wait until things get worse to get support.
I offer creative, developmentally appropriate therapy for children, and collaborative support for the parents who love them. Together, we’ll work toward more steadiness, connection, and confidence — for your child and for your family as a whole.
If you’re ready to learn more or have questions, I’d be glad to connect.
How Play Therapy Helps Children and Families
Sometimes change takes time. In other cases, a few thoughtful tweaks and the right support are all that’s needed.
Maybe change looks like fewer meltdowns, or your child beginning to express themselves in a new way.
Maybe it’s calmer mornings, fewer school phone calls, or just a bit more flexibility when things don’t go perfectly.
Or maybe the biggest shift is you — feeling more confident, more clear, and less reactive when things get tough.
When your child is struggling, it’s easy for your mind to leap ahead — imagining years of challenges or feeling unsure of what’s next.
But with the right support, things can start to shift. You begin to feel like you’re on the right path — and that you’ve given your child and your family tools to make things better.
Support for Parents of Struggling Children
You’ve tried. That’s part of why you’re here.
If you’ve already read the books, adjusted bedtime, changed screen time rules, talked to the school — you’re not alone.
Most parents who reach out to me have done so much before scheduling that first session.
Maybe you’ve spent nights googling symptoms or second-guessing yourself. Maybe you’ve wondered if you're missing something — or if it's your fault somehow.
The truth is, parenting a child who's struggling can be overwhelming, even when you're doing your best.
Frequent meeting with caregivers is baked into the process so that you are supported as well.
If school has become a stressor — whether due to behavior concerns, learning differences, or communication challenges — I can also help you navigate those systems. With a background in education and deep familiarity with IEPs, 504 plans, and school support teams, I can help you advocate for your child in a way that feels clear and empowering.
And frequent meeting with caregivers is baked into the process so that both you and your child are supported.
Your Questions, Answered
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We offer a range of solutions designed to meet your needs—whether you're just getting started or scaling something bigger. Everything is tailored to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.
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We combine a thoughtful, human-centered approach with clear communication and reliable results. It’s not just what we do—it’s how we do it that sets us apart.
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You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.
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We offer flexible pricing based on project type and complexity. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.
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Collaborative, honest, and straightforward. We're here to guide the process, bring ideas to the table, and keep things moving.
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Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way.
What If My Child Doesn’t Open Up in Therapy?
Still unsure?
You might be wondering — what if my child doesn’t open up? What if they just play or sit there and don’t talk? How will I even know if this is working.
This is a valid concern and it makes sense to ask this question. After all, if your child is not on board with talking about the stuff that’s bothering them, why should they come to therapy.
So, let me put your mind at ease. Not only is it okay if your child doesn’t talk to me about what’s bothering them, it’s normal.
Kids don’t communicate the way adults do. Adults are used to using language to process and communicate. But kids don’t operate that way.
That’s why they need therapy that is tailored for the way their brain works.
Play is the language young kids use to communicate. It’s how they explore, express, and work through hard things — even when they can’t yet explain them with words.
Maybe you’ve even tried therapy before — and it didn’t seem to help. That can feel discouraging and like a waste of time. I get that.
The truth is that, therapy isn’t always quick. Every child is different.
I can’t hand you a perfect timeline of when things will start getting better. What I can offer is a consistent, creative, and responsive approach — along with regular communication so you’re always aware of what’s happening and how to support your child at home.
And if you’re afraid therapy will make your child feel like something is wrong with them, let me put your mind at rest.
Therapy is never about fixing. It’s about providing your child a therapeutic space to feel safe, accepted, and supported, just as they are. And that is really what makes therapy so powerful and effective.