Why play therapy?

Unlike most adults, children and adolescents do not have the structural brain development to successfully communicate themselves verbally. Play is the first language of the child, and the language they continue to be best versed in through adolescence. A registered play therapist (RPT) is a therapist who has undergone years of special training that allow them to "speak" the language of play. An RPT connects with children in a way that makes sense to them. An RPT is trained to interpret play and help the child and family heal. Research indicates 70% of children who receive play therapy have an improvement in symptoms being treated. During sessions, children and adolescents will engage in a variety of activities from directed play, to open-ended play, painting, sculpting, music therapy, movement therapy, drama/role playing and talking.

Play therapy is an empirically-proven treatment to mental health issues in children. Research has found Play Therapy to be an effective mental health approach, regardless of age, gender, or the nature of the problem, and works best when a parent, family member, or caretaker is actively involved in the treatment process.

What to expect for initial appointment

Prior to your arrival, please make sure to bring in all completed paperwork with you. If you need hard copies, please let me know so we may make prior arrangements so that paperwork completion does not detract from your allotted time. The intake appointment is solely for caregivers, and we do not recommend you bring your children as we have no available child care. Please expect to spend between 1-1.5 hours at the intake appointment. During this session, I will gather information and we will discuss treatment options. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I look forward to seeing you!

What to expect from therapy

During the intake appointment, we will discuss how to share with your child that he/she/they will be coming to play with Tänne. Children typically enjoy coming to therapy, but can be reluctant at first and after reveals in session. The length of treatment depends on each individual and will be discussed throughout treatment. Please make sure to dress your child in comfortable clothing that he/she/they is not afraid to get messy or dirty in. In session, we often complete art projects and various sensory tasks. We ask that parents or caregivers remain on site at all times, and are easily accessible in case of emergency. Parents may wait in our lounge or at the Public House next door. Appointments are 50-55 minutes and sometimes include a parent chat at the beginning of session. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns

Helpful Tips

Please do not tell your child that he/she/they is bad or "needs to be fixed." Therapy should never be a punishment, but rather a treasured experience.

Please do not tell your child to behave during session, as they should present just as they are.

Sessions are confidential with the exception of mandatory reporting laws and "red flags" that indicate to Tänne that a caregiver should be informed. Please do not question your child after the session. Children often cherish their "special time" and worry that answering questions "incorrectly" may upset parents/caregivers. If your child chooses to share his/her/their progress, please listen non-judgmentally. Encourage your child, with a simple "I'm proud of you" or "I'm proud of you for working hard with Tänne." If you have questions about progress, please direct those questions towards Tänne.

Who benefits from play or expressive therapies?

Everyone! Play therapy and expressive therapies are a very adaptable approach that can be used to treat a multitude of issues including:

Depression
Anxiety
Attachment issues
Separation anxiety
Bullying, social isolation
Low self-esteem
Eating disorders
Phobias, including social phobias
Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
Trauma and PTSD
Self-harming behaviors
Risky behaviors
Grief and loss
Transitional issues, including adoption, moves and divorce
Anger management
Emotional dysregulation
General parent/caregiver coaching

How does Tänne work with families that are separated or divorced?

When both parents have legal custody/shared decision-making rights, Tänne requires that both parents provide consent to treatment. Tänne requires that you provide a current copy of your parenting agreement or legal custody document for our records. If a parent chooses to revoke his/her/their consent for services this must be provided in writing.

At the time of your initial intake, we will start by establishing clear boundaries and expectations for the level of engagement each parent will have in the therapy process. This includes scheduling, receiving parent feedback, and payment for services.

If one parent has sole custody, Tänne will review the custody documents on a case-by-case basis to determine who would need consent to treatment. This is not uncommon, and should not prevent a person from seeking services.

What ages do you serve?

Play It Forward offers services for kiddos starting age 2 through 20. I also welcome parents at all stages of parenting, including prenatal counseling.

If I bring my child during the day, what do I do about school?

I work closely with schools and provide letters to the school so your child is not penalized. Most schools are flexible and understanding of the counseling process. Most of the time I work with teachers, school counselors and other school personnel to offer the most comprehensive services I can for my clients.

How do I find Play It Forward?

Play It Forward is located in Yarmouth, a town just north of Portland, Maine. Play It Forward is on Forest Falls Drive, right off Route 1. The office shares a building with WoodHull Public house and is across the parking lot from the town post office. We are in Suite 3. Once through the double glass doors, make a left. The office and bathroom facilities are ADA accessible. And there is plenty of on-site parking!

What are your hours?

Play It Forward works by appointment only. I try my best to accommodate our client’s schedules by offering evening and occasionally weekend appointments.

Do you take insurance?

At this time, Play It Forward does not participate in any insurance networks. Play It Forward is an out-of-network provider, and is happy to submit bills to insurance for out-of-network reimbursements. Many insurance providers will reimburse up to 70% for this. Due to the specialized nature of the treatment I provide, and the lack of Registered Play Therapists in the Portland Maine area, many providers are willing to work with their insured members.

What are your rates?

Intake appointments are for guardians only only run between 60-75 minutes and are billed at $200.

30 minute play therapy appointments for younger children are billed at $130.

50 minute “full length” appointments for clients and parents are billed at $175.

*Limited sliding scale spots are available at a first come first serve basis. Second year graduate school interns also offer therapeutic services on a sliding scale. Please note that at this time, there are no interns providing services. Sorry for the inconvenience.