Play Therapy in Calgary, AB
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Compassionate, Evidence-Based Play Therapy for Children
Are you looking for effective, child-centred support for your child? Our play therapy space provides a safe, supportive environment where children can express themselves, process emotions, and build resilience through the natural language of play!
Led by a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), we specialize in helping children navigate emotional, behavioural, and social challenges using proven, developmentally appropriate techniques.
What Is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is an evidence-based approach that allows children to communicate, explore feelings, and resolve difficulties through play rather than words alone. Because children often lack the vocabulary to fully express complex emotions, play becomes a powerful tool for healing and growth. Through sessions, children can:
❋ Express thoughts and feelings safely
Children are given a supportive, non-judgmental space where they can communicate emotions and experiences freely through play, even when they don’t have the words to explain them.
❋ Develop emotional regulation skills
Through guided play and therapeutic techniques, children learn how to identify, understand, and manage their emotions in healthier and more adaptive ways.
❋ Strengthen problem-solving abilities
Play therapy encourages children to explore different solutions, think creatively, and develop flexible strategies for handling challenges in everyday life.
❋ Process difficult experiences or transitions
Using symbolic play and creative expression, children can work through challenging life events, such as loss, trauma, or change,vin a way that feels safe and manageable.
❋ Improve self-esteem and confidence
As children experience success, validation, and acceptance in therapy, they begin to build a stronger sense of self-worth and confidence in their abilities.
❋ Enhance social skills and relationships
Through interactive play and guided experiences, children learn important social skills such as communication, empathy, cooperation, and building healthy relationships with others.
Our Approach to Play Therapy
We use a holistic and integrative approach, combining multiple therapeutic modalities to support your child’s emotional and psychological well-being.
Movement-Based Therapy
Movement helps children release stress, regulate their nervous system, and reconnect with their bodies. Activities may include interactive games, sensory-based movement, and mind-body awareness exercises
Art Therapy Techniques
Creative expression through art helps children explore emotions safely and meaningfully. This may include drawing and painting, creative crafts, and symbolic expression
Sand Tray Therapy
Sand tray therapy allows children to create scenes using miniature figures in a tray of sand, offering a powerful way to express subconscious thoughts, process trauma or anxiety, and tell stories without words
Therapeutic Play
Play is at the heart of everything we do. Using toys, storytelling, role-play, and imagination, children can practice social skills, work through fear, build confidence, and develop emotional insight
Why Choose a Registered Play Therapist?
Working with a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) ensures your child is supported by a highly trained professional with specialized education and clinical experience in play therapy.
Our RPT uses evidence-based uses evidence-based play therapy techniques, tailors each session to your child’s unique needs, and provides a safe, nurturing, and non-judgmental environment.
Who We Help
Our Calgary play therapy services support children facing a wide range of emotional, behavioural, and social challenges.
We work with children experiencing anxiety or excessive worry, behavioural difficulties, ADHD-related concerns, and struggles with emotional regulation.
We also help children who are having difficulties with social interactions, including peer relationships and communication skills.
What to Expect from Play Therapy
Starting therapy can feel like a big step for both you and your child! Our goal is to make the process clear, supportive, and comfortable from the very beginning. Here’s what you can expect when beginning play therapy at Bluebird Psychology
Initial Parent Intake Meeting
Therapy begins with a parent-only intake session, where we take the time to understand your child’s unique needs, strengths, and challenges. During this meeting, we’ll discuss:
Your child’s emotional, social, and developmental history
Current concerns (such as anxiety, behaviour, or life transitions)
Family dynamics and environment
Your goals for therapy
This session allows us to gather important background information and create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your child.
Child Play Therapy Sessions (50 Minutes)
Your child will attend 50-minute play therapy sessions. During these sessions, they will engage in carefully selected play-based activities such as:
Creative arts (drawing, painting, crafts)
Sand tray and sensory play
Imaginative play and storytelling
Games that support emotional expression and regulation
Each session is guided by our Registered Play Therapist who follows your child’s lead while gently supporting emotional growth, problem-solving, and self-expression. Over time, this process helps children build confidence, process difficult experiences, and develop healthier ways of coping.
Ongoing Parent Consultation
We believe that parents are an essential part of the therapeutic process. To keep you informed and supported, we offer parent consultation meetings after every 5 child sessions.
These consultations provide an opportunity to:
Discuss your child’s progress and emerging themes in therapy
Share insights into your child’s emotional world
Offer practical strategies you can use at home
Adjust goals or approaches as needed
This collaborative approach ensures that therapy extends beyond the playroom and into your child’s everyday life.
A Supportive, Child-Centered Approach
Every child moves through therapy at their own pace. Some children may begin expressing changes quickly, while others need more time to build trust and feel safe. Throughout the process, we focus on creating a consistent, nurturing environment where your child feels understood and accepted.
Our goal is not just short-term improvement, but lasting emotional resilience and well-being.
Play Therapy Starting May 1st!
Bluebird Psychology is excited to announce that we will be offering play therapy by a Registered Play Therapist starting in May! To be added to her waitlist, or to learn more, please email office@bluebirdpsychology.ca
Have questions?
We’re here to help!
email us at office@bluebirdpsychology.ca
call us at (587) 288-6884
or schedule a free 15-minute consultation with one of our psychologists here.