OneYou Psychology offers play therapy in Portland for children, in person at our South Waterfront office. Kids often can’t explain big feelings in words, but they can show them through play. Play therapy gives children a safe, natural way to work through worry, frustration, and change, with parents involved along the way.
At a glance
- Who it’s for: children, especially ages 6 to 12, and their parents
- Helps with: anxiety, big emotions and meltdowns, ADHD, autism, school stress, family changes, and confidence
- Where: in person at 5200 SW Macadam Ave, Suite 460, Portland (South Waterfront)
- Parents: regular check-ins and practical strategies for home
- Insurance: Aetna, Regence BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, Moda, UnitedHealthcare, and more
What Is Play Therapy?
Play is how children learn and communicate. In play therapy, a trained therapist uses toys, art, games, and storytelling to help a child express feelings, practice new skills, and feel more in control. It looks like play to your child. To the therapist, it is a window into what your child is experiencing.
When Play Therapy Can Help
- Frequent meltdowns, anger, or tears that seem bigger than the situation
- Worry, fears, or trouble separating from parents
- Struggles with attention, impulsivity, or following directions
- Social challenges or difficulty making friends
- Big changes, such as divorce, a move, a new sibling, or a loss
- Low confidence or saying things like “I’m bad at everything”
Play Therapy for ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety
Many of the children we see have ADHD, autism, or anxiety. Play therapy meets them where they are. It builds emotional regulation, flexibility, and frustration tolerance in a way that feels natural, without long talks that are hard for young kids to sit through.
How Play Therapy Works at OneYou
- Parent intake: we start by meeting with you to understand your child’s history, strengths, and challenges.
- Child sessions: your child meets weekly with their therapist in our playroom-friendly office.
- Parent check-ins: you get regular updates and simple strategies to use at home.
- Next steps: as kids grow, some move into talk therapy, our teen ADHD group, or the PEERS social skills group.
Our Child Therapists
Each of our child therapists works with ADHD, autism, and anxiety, and our onboarding specialist will help you find the right fit and the next available time. Meet the whole team.
Taylor Kilburn, CSWA
Taylor offers play therapy for children and teens, especially for anxiety, big emotions, and LGBTQIA+ and questioning youth.
Colin Brown, CSWA
Colin works with neurodivergent kids and their families using ACT and CBT. In addition, he brings his own lived experience with ADHD.
Paige Gregg, LPCA
Paige helps children with ADHD and autism build emotional regulation, executive functioning, and friendship skills.
Play Therapy at Our Portland Office
Our South Waterfront office has easy access from I-5 and plenty of parking. We serve families from Portland, Lake Oswego, Beaverton, Tigard, and West Linn, with after-school appointment times available. For more on how play therapy works, see the Association for Play Therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ages is play therapy for?
Play therapy works best for children roughly 6 to 12. Younger and older children can benefit too, and we will recommend the best fit after the parent intake.
Do parents join play therapy sessions?
Most sessions are one-on-one with your child, with regular parent check-ins. Sometimes we invite parents into sessions to practice skills together.
Is play therapy covered by insurance?
Most major plans cover play therapy as part of outpatient mental health care. We verify your benefits before the first appointment. See fees and insurance.
Schedule a Free Consultation
Fill out the form below, or call or text (503)-622-8770. You can also email office@oneyounw.com. We typically respond within one business day.