Comprehensive play therapy interview with Jennifer Taylor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Registered Play Therapist (RPT) specializing in individual, group, and family therapy with children. Learn what play therapy is—a developmentally sensitive mental health counseling approach that allows children to use a specially designed playroom to facilitate expression of emotions and feelings. Discover how play therapy helps children who are not yet ready for traditional talk therapy designed for adults. Jennifer explains child-centered play therapy where children choose what they’d like to do and the therapist follows the child’s lead, with the relationship valued over specific techniques. Includes real examples of how play helps children process trauma like witnessing violence, an Inside Out Feelings Activity video and infographic for ages 5-8, assessment tools (ASQ-3, MCHAT, CATS, PHQ-9), recommended play therapy room equipment (expressive, aggressive, real-life toys, sandbox), essential books (The Art of the Relationship by Gary Landreth, The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Bruce Perry), and 9 practical tips for mental health professionals interested in becoming play therapists including joining the Association for Play Therapy, getting quality training and supervision, and trusting the process.