Frequently asked questions.

General questions

  • Child-centered play therapy gives children a safe space to express their thoughts and feelings through play. Because many children communicate more naturally with toys than words, play becomes a meaningful way for them to explore emotions and work through challenging experiences.

  • You may consider counseling if your child is experiencing emotional, social, or behavioral challenges that are affecting daily life at home or school. If something feels off, it’s okay to trust that instinct.

  • Counseling can support children with a range of emotional and behavioral challenges, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, emotional outbursts, negative self-talk, and family-related stressors.

Services and process

  • The first session is an initial parent consultation held without your child present. This meeting gives you space to share your child’s story, your concerns, and your hopes, while also learning about the child-centered play therapy process and how parents are supported throughout treatment.

    Your child’s first therapy session focuses on building a trusting relationship. The therapist follows your child’s lead through play and conversation, creating a space where your child can feel accepted, understood, and safe. Your child will be invited into the playroom and encouraged to explore the materials freely, within clear and consistent boundaries. After the 45-minute session, the therapist will walk your child back to the lobby to meet you.

  • Parents are essential partners in the therapeutic process. About every five weeks, we meet for a parent consultation to share observations, reflect on themes emerging in play, and discuss ways to support your child’s emotional growth outside the playroom. These parent consultation sessions are provided at no additional cost.

  • Child-centered play therapy is a process that unfolds at each child’s unique pace. Many families begin to notice shifts over time as their child develops greater emotional awareness and regulation. Research indicates that the average length of play therapy ranges from 20–40 weeks, though the length of treatment varies based on each child’s needs and experiences.

  • Child-centered play therapy supports children in developing emotional regulation, self-awareness, and confidence—skills that naturally extend into school and daily life. While some diagnoses, such as ADHD or dyslexia, are not conditions to be “fixed,” therapy offers a supportive space where children can strengthen resilience, understand themselves more fully, and grow in ways that honor who they are.

Practical concerns

  • Cascading Roots is an out-of-network, private-pay practice. While we do not bill insurance directly, we are happy to provide monthly superbills if you choose to seek reimbursement through your insurance plan.

    If your plan includes out-of-network benefits, your insurance provider can explain your specific coverage and reimbursement rates, which often range between 50–80%. At the end of each month, you’ll receive the documentation needed to submit a reimbursement request on your own.

  • Child-Centered Play Therapy is rooted in honoring the child’s pace, individuality, and emotional safety. Working outside of insurance allows therapy to remain fully guided by your child’s needs rather than external requirements.

    Insurance companies typically require:

    • A mental health diagnosis

    • Ongoing documentation shared beyond the therapy space

    • Limits on the number or frequency of sessions

    Choosing private pay helps protect your child’s privacy, allows therapy to unfold without predetermined limits, and reduces the likelihood that sensitive information becomes part of a permanent medical record that may follow your child into adulthood.

  • At Cascading Roots, your fees cover your child’s therapy sessions, which provide a consistent, protected space for emotional expression, growth, and healing through Child-Centered Play Therapy.

    We believe parents should not be charged to learn about or support their child. For this reason:

    • The initial parent consultation is complimentary

    • Ongoing parent consultations are complimentary every 5 weeks

    These dedicated 50-minute consultations offer time to discuss your child’s progress, observations at home, and ways to support emotional development beyond the playroom.

    Payment is accepted via debit cards, credit cards, and HSA/FSA cards.

  • To support consistency and care for all families, we ask for 24 hours’ notice for cancellations or rescheduling. When notice is provided, no fee is charged.

    We also recognize that life happens:

    • Your first late cancellation or no-show is waived

    • No charge is applied in the event of an emergency

    Determinations regarding emergencies are made thoughtfully and at the therapist’s discretion, with care and fairness in mind.

  • Give me a call at (509) 903-5559 or you can request an appointment online through the Contact page on the website.