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The official logo of Horizon Mental Health says “Sarah Olson, LSCSW, Certified Play Therapist” and I suspect many reading that may wonder what exactly is a play therapist. I’ve gotten interesting questions and comments since adding that credential to my professional title. One question was “So does that mean you teach kindergarten?” and comments often are something like “Oh cool. You get to play with kids all day. How fun!” These comments are well-meaning and I don’t take offense. I’m happy to talk more about it.

First let’s get into why I sought out play therapy training. I have a master’s degree in clinical social work, meaning I’m a trained and licensed mental health therapist. For 12 years I worked in public education with clients ages 3-18. For the majority of the time, I worked in a K-6 elementary school. In 2016, I completed post-graduate education in play therapy from Mid-America Nazarene University to enhance my work with children.

The Association for Play Therapy’s website defines play therapy as:

“a way of being with the child that honors their unique developmental level and looks for ways of helping in the “language” of the child – play. Licensed mental health professionals therapeutically use play to help their clients, most often children ages three to 12 years, to better express themselves and resolve their problems.” (a4pt.org)

These are some of the kids of issues for which my child clients might come to therapy:

Disruption(s) in attachment (such as foster care)
Death of a parent or other loved one
High level of aggression
Difficulties with impulse control
Difficulties with emotion management
Parents divorcing or re-marrying
High levels of anxiety, including specific fears
Physical or sexual abuse
Bullying as a victim or target

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it does give the reader an idea of what kinds of issues a play therapist might treat. In addition, I work with the systems in which the child operates. I may see the child in session one-on-one, but I take what I learn from the child and the skills I teach there and work with parents/caregivers/teachers to carry those skills over to other areas of the child’s life.

In the future I’ll share specific techniques I might use to help children with various issues. But for now, if your child is struggling and you’ve exhausted all the resources and know-how that you currently possess, I hope you’ll consider play therapy as a way to help your child and your family.

I’ll close with a short video from a professor at John Brown University with an overview of play therapy (click on the title to view):

Overview of Play Therapy

Welcome! This is the blog associated with my therapy practice, Horizon Mental Health. This being my first post, I thought I should explain why I chose “Horizon” for the name.

A few years ago I went though a difficult time in my life. Perhaps I’ll discuss that more in future posts, but for now I’ll focus on what it felt like at that time. I had a very specific metaphor that kept coming back to me, that of being in a vast body of water. It was cold and I was weary from treading for so long. It was all I could do to keep my head above. I was exhausted and I didn’t know which way to go. I could see land but it was so far away on the horizon I didn’t believe I could get there.

So I went to a therapist.

And it was incredibly helpful.

Sticking with the metaphor, she threw me a life preserver so I could take a minute to catch my breath. She helped me refocus on the various directions I might go and reminded me that I already know how to swim. My therapist also reminded me that the one who created the sea and who walks on water was with me and would not let me drown.

Ultimately, I made it to that distant place that I had seen on the horizon. And I arrived there stronger, more fit to manage life’s challenges, and better able to make it to the next place on another horizon. Seeing a therapist also showed me that I have the skills to ‘sit in the other chair’ and that I am called to do that work. Therapy is not magic. But it can have an impact that feels almost magical in the way it can transform lives.

I don’t know where you are in life. But if you are struggling, I want you to know that therapy can be incredibly powerful and life-changing. It’s difficult admitting that you don’t have it all together, calling a therapist, or accepting help. I shared this post in my hope that someone reading it who is in a vulnerable place might have the courage to seek therapy. You have no idea what might be on the horizon.

What is Play Therapy?

Why Horizon?