The transition from daytime and its multitude of activities to the quiet solitude of bedtime and sleep can often be a challenging time for children and parents alike. Whether one is a child or an adult, our days are often filled with numerous obligations and tasks, people to interact with, television and computer screens to engage with and entertains us, and physical activities such as work, exercise, play, etc. For some people the activities of daily life may be exciting and

Emotions can be very challenging, especially when we perceive that we are ill-equipped or incapable of dealing with them. This dynamic is why we have this idea in our culture that some emotions are “negative” (like sadness, anger, and fear, for example), while other emotions are “positive” (like passion, excitement, and joy). From working in the field of play therapy, and getting to support many children and adults through emotional processes, it is so clear to me that every

Even in childhood, there are so many things in life that provoke fear and anxiety. From small stressors like being alone in the dark or not knowing what activity comes next, to major life events and transitions, every child likely experiences some form of anxiety. Although experiencing fear is completely normal, many children do not have the skills to deal with anxiety when it comes up. Unprocessed fear can lead to many physical and behavioral symptoms, including: excessive e

Hyperactivity and ADHD can result in behavioral symptoms and distress. Often, it is not just something the child has to live with, but instead impacts the entire family system. At the Bridge Center for Play Therapy, we utilize a holistic perspective and are motivated to target underlying causes of distressing behaviors and to providing care for the individual, the family, and their unique experience. Where hyperactivity and ADHD are concerned, we view difficulty focusing, dif

There is a lot of buzz around “play” right now, or rather the scarcity of play in today’s world. Parents, educators, and experts in various fields of child services are witnessing unfortunate side effects of limited playtime, and their concerns are giving this weighty topic the attention it needs. With the decline of play in the daily lives of children comes increased levels of anxiety, depression, overall decline in feelings of happiness, as well as fewer overall skills, suc