Play Therapy in 97209
Rinat Ahdoot
Licensed Professional Counselor, MA, LPC
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Portland, OR 97209
Waitlist for new clients
I am a somatic, relational therapist. I believe that people have a desire to feel seen and heard, and in that capacity, have the ability to heal and grow. My clients report that I shift their perspective with gentle candor, humor, and humanness. I encourage them to see their inner power, enabling them to overcome blockages, be kind and gentle with themselves, and have the relationships and life they desire. I work with all types of people and relationships struggling with the wide array of challenges human emotion has given us.
I am a somatic, relational therapist. I believe that people have a desire to feel seen and heard, and in that capacity, have the ability to heal and grow. My clients report that I shift their perspective with gentle candor, humor, and humanness. I encourage them to see their inner power, enabling them to overcome blockages, be kind and gentle with themselves, and have the relationships and life they desire. I work with all types of people and relationships struggling with the wide array of challenges human emotion has given us.
Gary Neil Reiss
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, PhD, , LCSW
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Portland, OR 97209
I work with a wide range of people. My clients like deep work, As a Process Oriented therapist and teacher I use dreamwork, symptoms work, bodywork, movement, relationship work, conflict work, inner work and meditation, art and creativity, and many other methods based on the individuals client's process. I work with individuals, couples, and families. I have helped develop Process Oriented family therapy; Process Oriented sex and intimacy work; Process Oriented personal and historical trauma work; Process oriented coma and brain injury work, I have written 11 books on these topics. My work integrates mind body and spirit.
I work with a wide range of people. My clients like deep work, As a Process Oriented therapist and teacher I use dreamwork, symptoms work, bodywork, movement, relationship work, conflict work, inner work and meditation, art and creativity, and many other methods based on the individuals client's process. I work with individuals, couples, and families. I have helped develop Process Oriented family therapy; Process Oriented sex and intimacy work; Process Oriented personal and historical trauma work; Process oriented coma and brain injury work, I have written 11 books on these topics. My work integrates mind body and spirit.
Tracy Gilmore
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, MA, MFA, LCSW
Verified Verified
1 Endorsed
Portland, OR 97209 (Online Only)
I think I work best with clients whose goals are both large and realistic: working with depth enough for deep healing and growth, but with an eye to the practical, and with clear communication back and forth. Clients who need to tackle embarrassing, painful and difficult issues may appreciate my gently direct, understanding and non-judgmental approach. Those who have been frustrated with cookie-cutter approaches may appreciate my close listening, collaboration, and inventiveness based on extensive training and experience. I find I work well with a variety of symptoms and presenting problems in adults, children and relationships.
I think I work best with clients whose goals are both large and realistic: working with depth enough for deep healing and growth, but with an eye to the practical, and with clear communication back and forth. Clients who need to tackle embarrassing, painful and difficult issues may appreciate my gently direct, understanding and non-judgmental approach. Those who have been frustrated with cookie-cutter approaches may appreciate my close listening, collaboration, and inventiveness based on extensive training and experience. I find I work well with a variety of symptoms and presenting problems in adults, children and relationships.
Connections First LLC
Clinical Social Work/Therapist, LCSW, LPC, LMFT, CSWA, LPC-I
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Portland, OR 97209
At Connections First we have faith in the power of connection: with your inner life and to the outer world through meaningful relationships. We believe that mental health is an effect of feeling more deeply connected to ourselves and to others through the safety of transparent, emotionally honest relationships. How we communicate with ourselves and those we care about determines whether we possess integrity and feel empowered to express ourselves as human beings. Much of our symptoms are the effects of emotional, psychological, and physical isolation and self-alienation which can even happen when we are surrounded by other people.
At Connections First we have faith in the power of connection: with your inner life and to the outer world through meaningful relationships. We believe that mental health is an effect of feeling more deeply connected to ourselves and to others through the safety of transparent, emotionally honest relationships. How we communicate with ourselves and those we care about determines whether we possess integrity and feel empowered to express ourselves as human beings. Much of our symptoms are the effects of emotional, psychological, and physical isolation and self-alienation which can even happen when we are surrounded by other people.
Andrew Conner
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
2 Endorsed
Portland, OR 97209
I help Millennials and Gen-Z individuals have more satisfying relationships and build self-esteem. When we first begin therapy, my clients feel like their relationships are lacking. They’re having issues with family, friends, and partners. They wonder why they keep having the same experiences in relationships, and what they can do about it. They wish they knew why things keep playing out in the same way. They feel like they’re not good enough, and that it’s their fault. All too often, they blame themselves for the struggles that they’re experiencing.
I help Millennials and Gen-Z individuals have more satisfying relationships and build self-esteem. When we first begin therapy, my clients feel like their relationships are lacking. They’re having issues with family, friends, and partners. They wonder why they keep having the same experiences in relationships, and what they can do about it. They wish they knew why things keep playing out in the same way. They feel like they’re not good enough, and that it’s their fault. All too often, they blame themselves for the struggles that they’re experiencing.
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Play Therapy
Who is play therapy for?
Play therapy is generally targeted to children between the ages of 3 and 11 who have social, emotional, or behavioral difficulties. Play therapy has also been found helpful for children who have experienced physical or emotional abuse or witnessed atrocities. Play therapy is also often recommended for children who are undergoing major medical procedures or who are suffering from chronic illness; many children’s hospitals are equipped to offer play therapy on-site. Play therapy is also sometimes used for adults; creative writing, music, and art are expressive forms that can all be adapted for therapeutic purposes.
Why do people need play therapy?
Children often do not have the language skills or words to know or to express what is troubling them. Yet they often spontaneously draw or use playthings to depict scenarios that reflect problems in their everyday life. Play therapy provides children with an array of objects and play situations to act out their feelings or experiences so that therapists can get a clear picture of what children might be struggling with and help them find solutions. In addition, play therapists are skilled at helping children understand their inner experience and find words for them, necessary steps toward helping children learn to control their own behavior and come up with solutions to problems they encounter.
What happens in play therapy?
A child enters a comfortable playroom where they are free to choose the objects they want to play with. The play therapist will typically observe how they play with the toys—whether a sandbox, puppets, dolls and action figures, trucks, costumes, drawing and painting materials, or more—because such play provides clues to a child’s family and social relationships, difficulties they are encountering in the world, and what going on inside themselves. Sometimes the therapist may ask the child to use the play objects to tell a story about their family. Using the same instruments of play, therapists can help children discover more advantageous ways of thinking and behaving.
What kinds of problems do play therapists treat?
Play therapy can help children who display destructive or self-destructive impulses; children who seem angry, sad, or fearful; children who experience frequent social, emotional, family, or school difficulty. Play therapy is often of value to children who have experienced a loss or distressing family experience, who are regularly exposed to family conflict, or who have been physically or emotionally abused. Play therapy can help children who are perpetrators of bullying as well as those who are targets of bullying. It helps children learn to identify their feelings, to express them in constructive ways, and to regulate them so they can get on with the business of development.
How long does play therapy last?
Play therapy sessions may last for 30 to 45 minutes, and they usually occur weekly for about 20 sessions. Each session is tailored to the individual child and the kinds of problems they are struggling with. Play that is highly repetitive often indicates a problem requiring further exploration. Therapists typically measure progress through session-to-session changes in play behavior.