Play Therapy in Saint John and Fredericton
Play therapy is a widely recognized approach that helps children to express feelings through play. This method offers children a safe and natural way to process challenging emotions or memories, even when they may not have the words to describe them.
Within a relaxed, comfortable playroom environment, our therapists observe and guide children as they work through emotions in a self-directed, healing way.
Beyond helping children process experiences, play therapy builds confidence, resilience, and self-mastery. It is particularly beneficial for children struggling with social or emotional deficits such as ADHD or autism, behavioural disorders, anxiety, depression, grief, anger or self-esteem issues.
It also provides a constructive outlet for children undergoing or witnessing stressful events such as serious illness, domestic violence, abuse, trauma, divorce, foster family adjustments, family crises or other upsetting changes in their environment.
Play therapy can also be beneficial for teens, families, couples, and even older adults. Techniques like storytelling, sand trays, and art activities are used across all ages to promote healing and self-discovery. For instance, sand trays—where individuals create scenes using sand and figurines—are effective tools for people of any age, fostering reflection and communication in both individual and group settings.
We offer play therapy in-person in Saint John and Fredericton.
Our compassionate play therapists are trained to support children in building resilience, confidence and emotional understanding. By learning to understand complex situations through play, children gain valuable interpersonal skills that can improve their relationships with peers and family members.
We can help kids…
learn to communicate better
change their behaviour
develop problem-solving skills
relate to others in positive ways
develop healthy attachments
work through trauma
HOW WE CAN HELP
How Play Therapy Works
Play therapy sessions are typically held weekly, lasting 30 to 45 minutes, with an average of 20 sessions. During each session, children are encouraged to use specific toys and activities that promote self-expression and the learning of positive behaviours. Alongside play, activities like arts and crafts, music, dancing and storytelling may be introduced to help children process emotions and practice new skills.
Parents or caregivers play a vital role in preparing for play therapy. For children aged 10 and under, the therapy process begins with a 30-minute session (either virtual or in-person) between the therapist and parent or caregiver, without the child present. During this session, the parent or caregiver shares background information, concerns and goals, allowing the therapist to understand the child’s needs and set up an effective treatment plan.
We use two approaches to play therapy: directive and non-directive.
With non-directive play therapy, the child is given a safe, welcoming space to play freely, with minimal guidance from the therapist beyond basic safety rules. The child’s play reveals their feelings, experiences and concerns, which the therapist observes to gain insight into the child’s inner world.
Directive play therapy involves structured activities where the therapist guides the child in specific tasks, like acting out stories, playing games or drawing pictures. Through these directed activities, children explore feelings and learn new ways of coping.
How much does play therapy cost?
Sessions with a registered social worker (RSW) or licensed counselling therapists (LCT) are $140.
Our counselling fees are not covered by Medicare but are covered by many extended health insurance plans.
Our clinic has therapists who are either registered social workers (RSW) or Licensed Counselling Therapists (LCT).
You must check your specific plan for what you have coverage for, as coverage is different for each policy. Verify that your plan covers counselling/therapy with a MSW, RSW or LCT. Your insurance may state you have coverage for clinical counsellor or psychotherapist, which would cover LCT or social worker.
We also offer direct billing with many different insurance companies, which allows you to keep more money in your pocket. We can direct bill Blue Cross, Veterans Affairs (VAC), Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Canada Life, Claim Secure, Chamber of Commerce, Work Safe, NIHB, Department of Social Development, and more provided your plan is set up for direct billing. Your are still responsible for any co-pay amounts at the time of service.
Is play therapy covered by insurance?
About Laura Gatien & Associates
At Laura Gatien & Associates, we take a proactive and collaborative approach to mental health treatment, offering clients access a diverse team of professionals with various expertise and specialties who learn from and can refer to one another. We take a holistic approach to treatment and believe everything makes perfect sense in the context of your life experiences.
Quality care is very important to us as a team, and we ensure this is upheld through regular clinical meetings, ongoing professional development and training opportunities, as well as using evidence-based frameworks. This helps us provide you with the best care for your individual needs so you can make progress sooner.
Our clients benefit from shared resources that exist within a team and the peace of mind that they are not just working with an individual, but are part of a broader mental health community learning and growing together.
We prioritize accessibility and availability of services, providing limited wait times and evening appointments to accommodate diverse schedules. We will regularly ask for feedback on your experience here so we can continue to improve.
Our Play Therapists
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Ricky McIntyre
Clinical Social Worker
Ready to Help Your Child Thrive?
We are accepting new clients for play therapy in Fredericton and Saint John. Let us help your child overcome their obstacles.