Play therapy is a therapeutic approach based on developmental principles. It is a process where the child chooses objects, symbols, or types of play to express their concerns and work through particular problems. In play therapy, toys are like the child’s words, and play is the child’s language. A child’s play is not simply a reproduction of what they have experienced but a creative reworking of the impressions they have acquired.
Our Calgary clinic offers play therapy for kids within a non-threatening and supportive environment that is ideal to enable children to grow emotionally. If your child suffers from anxiety, behavioral problems, loss, or trauma, play therapy is a resource that helps him or her work through overwhelming feelings naturally and constructively. Our experienced therapists have the ability to observe the patterns that a child’s play indicates and guide him or her subtly to healing and self-knowledge.
Play therapy at Rocky Mountain Psychological Services is informed by decades of experience in child-focused care and emotional development.
With a legacy that began as part of the Rocky Mountain Play Therapy Institute, this approach is rooted in a deep understanding of how children communicate, process, and heal through play.
We use play therapy not only to support immediate concerns, but also to build foundational skills that continue to benefit children as they grow and navigate more complex emotional and social experiences.
The main goals, regardless of the issue, are to help children regain their former level of functioning, enhance self-esteem and build the child’s coping resources. Through play therapy, children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-solving skills, and learn a variety of ways of relating to others.
Children often struggle to find the words to express what they’re feeling. However, more often than not, how they interact with toys and play often sheds light on their emotional status. Keeping that in mind, during children’s play therapy, we use toys, storytelling, and creative tools to help kids make sense of their experiences in a way that feels natural and safe to them. In time, they begin to feel more understood, more in control, and more confident and comfortable in their ability to handle life’s challenges.
Play provides a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows expression of thoughts and feelings appropriate to their development. This therapeutic method is ideally suited to children 3-12 years of age; parents are considered extremely important partners in the therapy process and are invited to take on a number of roles.
Children often experience emotional issues that they may not fully understand or know how to express. Play therapy calgary provides a safe space for individuals to express their feelings while also developing their emotional resilience, communication skills, and self-esteem. Children can start to feel safer and more capable in their daily lives with the help of both their therapist and their caregivers.
Every play therapy session is carefully planned to meet your child’s emotional and developmental requirements. Sessions typically last 45 to 60 minutes and take place in a warm, welcoming room equipped with toys, art supplies, and sensory items carefully selected to help children express their feelings safely.
During the session, your child may engage in pretend play, draw, tell stories, or participate in other creative activities. These strategies allow the therapist to gently observe how the child is feeling and what they are thinking, even when they can’t express it in words. The first step is to establish trust and make the child feel at ease. As time goes on, you can see that your child deals with their feelings, talks to you, or handles problems in different ways. This approach is a kind and age-appropriate way to rehabilitate, particularly if you are seeking play therapy in Calgary.
Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in making therapy effective. That’s why we work together, and you help your child make progress. We make it easy for parents to talk to us from the start. This enables you to understand how play therapy works and how you can help at home.
We may schedule regular meetings with you as a parent, provide you with tips on managing your child’s behavior outside of treatment, or even involve you in certain aspects of therapy, depending on your child’s needs. The benefits of parent support in play therapy are typically even greater when parents are involved and aware of what’s happening. We all work together to establish a circle of support that makes your child feel safe, connected, and strong.
Children’s play therapy can be a powerful tool for helping young children work through various emotional, social, and behavioral concerns. Our therapists provide gentle and practical support for children between the ages of 3 and 12 who may be struggling with:
A skilled kids therapist understands that children often show distress through their behavior rather than through words. That’s why play therapy can be such a meaningful way to help them make sense of difficult experiences, feel more in control, and begin to heal in a way that feels natural to them.
If any of the challenges above sound familiar, know that you are not alone. Support is available, and early help can make a lasting difference. Play therapy offers children a safe and developmentally appropriate means to explore their emotions, build resilience, and enhance confidence in their daily lives.
Your child’s mental and emotional health is very important, and they need professional, caring help. The head child psychologist in Calgary has both clinical training and a lot of experience working with kids. We use established approaches and personalize our approach to your child’s specific needs based on our backgrounds in developmental psychology, expressive arts, and trauma-informed care.
We know that starting treatment can be a significant deal, and we’re here to help you through it with care, clarity, and professionalism. From your first meeting to each session after that, you can count on a therapeutic partnership based on trust and respect that is helpful, honest, and insightful.
If you are concerned about your child’s development or wondering whether play therapy would be beneficial, you may schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
We can discuss your concerns, explain the process of play therapy, and help you determine whether it is the right next step for your child.
Cassandra Hillman White is the Owner and Clinical Director of Rocky Mountain Psychological Services (RMPS). A Registered Psychologist with more than 30 years of experience, Cassandra works with children, adolescents, parents, and families facing a wide range of developmental, emotional, behavioural, learning, and mental health challenges. She is known for her thoughtful case conceptualization, collaborative approach, and commitment to helping families understand both the challenges they are facing and the path forward.
Cassandra’s career began working with children with special needs and their families throughout Central Alberta. From supporting parents in their homes to consulting with daycare and preschool programs, she developed a deep appreciation for the importance of relationships, developmental understanding, and practical strategies that families and educators can use in everyday life. These early experiences continue to shape her work today.
Throughout her career, Cassandra has pursued extensive training across multiple therapeutic approaches, allowing her to tailor treatment to each client’s unique needs. Her clinical background includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Synergetic Play Therapy, Jungian Sandplay, Neurofeedback, Adlerian Therapy, Adlerian Play Therapy, and the Play Therapy Dimensions Model. While she draws from a variety of evidence-informed approaches, Adlerian principles and play therapy frameworks have become particularly influential in her current work with children and families.
Cassandra believes that effective therapy begins with understanding the whole person. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, she works collaboratively with clients and families to explore the factors contributing to current challenges, identify strengths, and develop meaningful goals. She values creating clear treatment plans that are reviewed and adjusted over time, ensuring clients remain active participants in their own growth and healing.
As Clinical Director, Cassandra leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and families across complex presentations, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, learning difficulties, emotional regulation concerns, trauma, behavioural challenges, and family relationship difficulties. She also works closely with schools, physicians, allied health professionals, and community agencies to help families access coordinated and effective support.
In addition to her clinical work, Cassandra serves as President of the Council of the College of Alberta Psychologists and is a Canadian Certified Play Therapist. She brings her commitment to ethical practice, professional excellence, and lifelong learning into every aspect of her work.
Outside of the office, Cassandra enjoys spending time with her four adult children, exploring nature, travelling, and continuing to learn. Her curiosity about people and their stories remains at the heart of the work she has loved for more than three decades.
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Raquel is an Office Administrator at RMPS. Back in Brazil, her home country, she graduated as a Psychologist and worked as a clinician for the past 5 years. Although she loved working with children and adults, she discovered a new passion: manage the administrative tasks that keep the business running.
As someone who is passionate about learning new things and developing new skills, with the career transition also came the decision to live abroad and explore a new culture. To serve empathetically and connect with people is Raquel’s main personal and professional goal.
Amanda is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Alberta Psychologists. Amanda earned her doctoral degree in Psychology at Brock University in Ontario in 2017, with a specialization in developmental psychology. Amanda provides formal assessment services at RMPS.
Since 2009, Amanda has received formal training and work experience in private practice settings in conducting psycho-educational assessments for students ranging from preschool through university. Amanda is skilled at test administration, interpretation of data, and report writing for various referral questions including ADHD, Learning Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety, Giftedness, and Intellectual Disabilities. Amanda enjoys working with people of all ages from diverse backgrounds, and she tries to make the testing environment feel relaxed and comfortable while maintaining integrity in testing protocol.
Zara is a Psychometrist/Psychological Assistant at RMPS. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Calgary and her Graduate Diploma in Psychological Assessment at Concordia University of Edmonton.
Zara has spent over five years working alongside children, adolescents, and their families in a variety of settings. These include public and private schools, in-home support, residential programs, early-intervention programs, and non-profit organizations. Currently, Zara is part of the assessment and neurotherapy team. As a lifelong learner, Zara plans to go back to graduate school and eventually become a psychologist one day.
