Play & Sandtray Therapy in Seattle, WA
Supporting children in making sense of their experiences, feeling understood, and expressing themselves with greater confidence.
Hi, I’m Stephen,
I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Washington State specializing in play therapy, with a focus on supporting children and families in a way that honors each child’s unique ways they experience the world.
My Approach
My work is grounded in child-centered play therapy, with additional training in neurodivergent-affirming care, sandtray therapy, and filial therapy (family play therapy).
I take a relational, non-directive approach, meaning your child is supported at their own pace in a space where they feel safe, respected, and understood.
I work closely with caregivers to help you better understand your child and feel more confident in how to support them outside of sessions.
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a form of therapy that allows children to express thoughts and emotions through play rather than traditional talk.
Children naturally communicate through Play. By using toys, art, storytelling, and imagination children can express things they see, feel, and desire without relying on verbal communication alone.
In therapy, these become the tools for processing experiences, fostering emotional regulation, build on learned social skills, and developing a stronger sense of self esteem.
Who is Play Therapy for?
If your child is struggling with big emotions, behavioral challenges, anxiety, or difficulty at home or school, you’re not alone. Many children don’t yet have the words to explain what they’re going through. Instead, their feelings show up through behavior, withdrawal, or overwhelm.
Play therapy offers a developmentally appropriate way for children to express themselves, feel understood, and begin to heal.
What is Sandtray Therapy?
Sandtray therapy is a powerful form of play therapy that allows children to create scenes in sand using miniature figures to express their inner world.
Through sandtray, children can communicate experiences that may be difficult or impossible to put into words. This process supports emotional integration, meaning-making, and a deeper sense of safety and understanding.
Sandtray therapy is especially helpful for:
Children who have experienced stress or overwhelm
Neurodivergent children (including autism, ADHD, PDA)
Children who struggle to verbalize emotions
Processing complex or layered experiences
What is Family Play Therapy?
Family play therapy—often called filial therapy or Child-Parent Relational Therapy (CPRT)—is an approach that actively involves caregivers in the therapeutic process. Rather than the child meeting individually with a therapist long-term, parents are supported in learning core play therapy skills they can use directly with their child at home.
Through guided coaching, modeling, and practice, parents learn how to follow their child’s lead in play, respond with empathy, and set supportive limits. This process helps strengthen the parent-child relationship, build emotional understanding, and create meaningful moments of connection outside of sessions.
I typically use this approach with families who have younger children (generally under age 7), as it can be especially effective in supporting early development and empowering caregivers during these foundational years.
Located in Fremont’s “Saturn Building” 3417 Evanston Ave N. Seattle, WA 98115
