Play Therapy for Children in Olympia, WA
Helping Children Express, Connect, and Grow Through Play
Sometimes, children have big feelings they don't quite know how to explain.
Maybe your child is experiencing frequent emotional outbursts, struggling with anxiety, having difficulty at school, or responding to situations in ways that leave you feeling confused, frustrated, or unsure how to help.
Perhaps you've noticed changes in their behavior, increased worries, difficulty managing transitions, or challenges connecting with others.
You know your child is struggling, but figuring out what they need isn't always easy.
At Inner Peace Therapy, we provide compassionate, developmentally appropriate play therapy for children in Olympia, Washington.
We believe that beneath challenging behaviors are important emotions, experiences, and needs that deserve to be understood.
Through play, connection, and supportive therapeutic relationships, we help children explore their experiences, strengthen emotional regulation, and develop a greater sense of confidence and resilience.
We also recognize that supporting a child means supporting the people who care for them.
You don't have to navigate your child's challenges alone.
We welcome children of all ages, from toddlers and preschoolers to school-aged children, providing developmentally appropriate therapeutic support tailored to each child's unique needs.
What Is Play Therapy?
Because Play Is How Children Communicate
For adults, therapy often involves talking about feelings, experiences, and challenges.
For children, words aren't always the most natural or effective way to communicate what's happening inside.
Play is one of the primary ways children express themselves, process experiences, explore relationships, and make sense of their world.
Play therapy uses developmentally appropriate therapeutic approaches to help children communicate and work through emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges.
Depending on your child's needs, sessions may incorporate toys, art, storytelling, imaginative play, movement, games, or other creative activities.
While play therapy may look like ordinary play from the outside, it is guided by intentional clinical observation, a therapeutic relationship, and individualized treatment goals.
Rather than expecting children to communicate like adults, we meet them in a language they already understand.
How Can Play Therapy Help My Child?
Children may benefit from play therapy for many different reasons. Some are navigating specific events or transitions, while others are experiencing emotional or behavioral difficulties that affect everyday life.
At Inner Peace Therapy, we support children experiencing:
Anxiety and excessive worry: Persistent fears, separation difficulties, perfectionism, or feeling overwhelmed.
ADHD and executive functioning challenges: Difficulty with attention, impulsivity, frustration tolerance, and emotional regulation.
Big emotions and behavioral challenges: Frequent meltdowns, irritability, aggression, withdrawal, or difficulty recovering after upsetting experiences.
Trauma and stressful experiences: Distressing events, frightening situations, or experiences that affect a child's sense of safety.
Family changes and life transitions: Divorce, separation, blended families, moves, grief, and other significant adjustments.
Self-esteem and confidence: Negative self-talk, fear of making mistakes, or difficulty recognizing personal strengths.
Peer relationships and social challenges: Friendship difficulties, bullying, boundaries, and navigating social situations.
Emotional expression and communication: Difficulty identifying feelings, expressing needs, or asking for help.
Every child is different. We work to understand what's underneath the behavior rather than focusing only on stopping the behavior itself.
Our goal is to help children build emotional awareness, connection, coping skills, and confidence in ways that support their individual development.
Our Approach: Synergetic Play Therapy®
Understanding the Child Beneath the Behavior
At Inner Peace Therapy, Nicole Giron, LMHC, is a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist® and Supervisor, bringing advanced specialized training to her work with children and families.
Synergetic Play Therapy® (SPT) is a relationship-centered approach that integrates principles of attachment, interpersonal neurobiology, nervous system regulation, and therapeutic play.
Rather than viewing difficult behaviors as problems to eliminate, this approach explores what those behaviors may communicate about a child's internal experience.
Connection Before Correction
When children feel overwhelmed, they may struggle to access the skills needed to communicate, problem-solve, or regulate their emotions.
Through a supportive therapeutic relationship, children have opportunities to experience emotional connection, practice regulation, and develop greater awareness of their feelings and responses.
Supporting the Nervous System
SPT recognizes the important relationship between emotional experiences, the body, and the nervous system.
Sessions may help children become more aware of their internal experiences while developing their capacity to navigate challenging emotions.
Honoring Each Child's Unique Experience
We don't believe children need to become someone else to be successful.
We work to understand each child's strengths, temperament, developmental needs, neurodivergence, identity, and individual experiences.
Our focus isn't simply on changing behavior. It's on helping children feel understood, connected, and supported as they grow.
Play Therapy for Anxiety, ADHD, and Emotional Regulation
When Big Feelings Take Over
You may have tried rewards, consequences, calming strategies, or countless conversations, only to find that your child continues to struggle.
This doesn't necessarily mean your child isn't trying.
Sometimes, children need additional support developing the emotional awareness, regulation, and relational skills that allow them to use the strategies they're learning.
Through play therapy, we help children explore feelings, develop coping skills, and strengthen their ability to navigate frustration, anxiety, disappointment, and other difficult experiences.
For children with ADHD or other neurodevelopmental differences, we use an individualized, neurodiversity-affirming approach that respects their unique ways of thinking, learning, communicating, and experiencing the world.
We also collaborate with caregivers to explore practical ways to support emotional regulation and connection outside of therapy.
Trauma-Informed Play Therapy for Children
Helping Children Feel Safe, Supported, and Understood
Children can be deeply affected by experiences that adults may not always recognize as overwhelming.
Trauma-related distress may appear through changes in sleep, separation difficulties, increased fears, emotional outbursts, withdrawal, repetitive play themes, or shifts in behavior.
Our trauma-informed approach emphasizes emotional safety, choice, connection, and respect for each child's individual pace.
When clinically appropriate, Nicole may also incorporate Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), a trauma-focused treatment that can be adapted for children.
We work collaboratively to determine which therapeutic approaches best support your child's needs.
Learn More About EMDR & Trauma Therapy
Supporting Parents and Caregivers
You're an Important Part of Your Child's Healing
We recognize that when a child is struggling, the entire family may feel the impact.
Parents and caregivers often arrive at therapy feeling worried, exhausted, uncertain, or frustrated after trying everything they know to help.
We want you to feel supported, too.
Depending on your child's age, needs, and treatment goals, caregiver involvement may include:
Parent consultations and progress discussions.
Exploring the emotions and needs underlying challenging behaviors.
Developing practical strategies for supporting regulation and connection at home.
Understanding developmental and nervous system responses.
Strengthening communication and relationships.
Supporting consistency across home, school, and other environments when appropriate.
We also respect children's privacy and the importance of creating a trusting therapeutic relationship.
Our goal is not to tell you how to parent. It's to work alongside you as we better understand and support your child.
What to Expect From Play Therapy
Step 1: Getting to Know Your Family
We begin with an intake appointment to learn about your child's development, strengths, experiences, current concerns, and family circumstances.
This helps us understand what support may be most helpful and begin developing individualized treatment goals.
Step 2: Building Trust and Connection
The early stages of play therapy often focus on helping your child feel comfortable, understood, and connected within the therapeutic environment.
Children need time to develop trust, and we honor that process.
Step 3: Therapeutic Play and Emotional Growth
Through developmentally appropriate play and therapeutic interactions, your child has opportunities to explore emotions, process experiences, strengthen coping skills, and develop greater self-awareness.
The activities and pace are tailored to your child's needs.
Step 4: Collaborating With Caregivers
Throughout treatment, we collaborate with caregivers as appropriate, discuss progress, and explore ways to support your child's growth beyond the therapy room.
We regularly revisit treatment goals and adjust our approach as your child's needs evolve.
An Inclusive, Affirming Space for Every Child
Every child deserves to feel accepted, respected, and valued for who they are.
Inner Peace Therapy is an LGBTQ+ affirming and neurodiversity-affirming practice welcoming children and families of diverse identities, backgrounds, and family structures.
We recognize that families look different, children develop differently, and there is no single definition of what a healthy family should look like.
Whether your family includes one parent, two parents, blended households, LGBTQ+ caregivers, or other important support figures, we strive to provide a welcoming environment where everyone is treated with dignity and compassion.
We believe children thrive when they experience meaningful connection, acceptance, and support.
Play Therapy in Olympia, Washington
Supporting Children and Families Throughout Thurston & Mason County
Inner Peace Therapy provides in-person play therapy in Olympia, Washington, welcoming families from Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, and surrounding communities.
Our therapeutic approach incorporates developmentally appropriate activities and opportunities for connection, expression, and emotional growth.
We also offer online counseling throughout Washington State when telehealth is developmentally and clinically appropriate. Traditional play therapy is generally best suited to in-person sessions, and we'll discuss the most appropriate format for your child.
Frequently Asked Questions About Play Therapy
What ages do you work with in play therapy?
At Inner Peace Therapy, we welcome children of all ages, including toddlers, preschoolers, elementary-aged children, and older children.
Play therapy is adapted to each child's developmental stage, individual needs, and unique ways of communicating. For younger children, sessions may focus on play, connection, emotional expression, and caregiver involvement. For older children, therapy may also incorporate creative activities, conversation, and other developmentally appropriate approaches.
We recognize that every child develops at their own pace, and we tailor our approach accordingly.
How is play therapy different from regular play?
While play therapy may look like ordinary play, it takes place within an intentional therapeutic relationship and is guided by clinical training, treatment goals, and an understanding of child development.
Does my child need a diagnosis to start play therapy?
No. Children may benefit from therapy when they're experiencing emotional, behavioral, relational, or adjustment difficulties, even without an existing diagnosis.
How long does play therapy take?
The length of treatment varies based on your child's needs, experiences, goals, and progress. We'll discuss treatment recommendations and revisit goals throughout the process.
Will parents be involved in therapy?
Yes, caregiver collaboration is an important part of our approach when appropriate. The type and frequency of involvement depend on your child's developmental needs, treatment goals, and privacy considerations.
What if my child doesn't want to talk about their feelings?
That's okay! One of the benefits of play therapy is that children aren't required to explain everything verbally. Play, art, movement, and creative activities can provide other ways to communicate and explore experiences.
Do you offer play therapy for children with ADHD?
Yes. We support children with ADHD and related challenges, including emotional regulation, impulsivity, frustration tolerance, and self-esteem. Our approach is individualized and neurodiversity-affirming.
Do you accept insurance?
Inner Peace Therapy is a private-pay practice. We do not bill insurance directly, but we can provide superbills for families who wish to explore potential out-of-network reimbursement through their insurance plan.
Your Child Deserves to Feel Understood
And You Deserve Support Along the Way.
Watching your child struggle can be difficult, especially when you're unsure how to help.
You don't have to have all the answers before reaching out.
At Inner Peace Therapy, we're here to offer a compassionate, supportive space where children can express themselves, explore their experiences, and develop the skills and connections that support emotional well-being.
Whether your child is navigating anxiety, ADHD, trauma, emotional regulation challenges, or difficult life transitions, we'd be honored to explore how we can support your family.
Offering in-person play therapy in Olympia, Washington.
Supporting children through connection, understanding, and the power of play.