Lily Pad Child & Adolescent Counseling

07/22/2026

We’re excited to introduce Lauren, one of the caring counselors at Lily Pad Child & Adolescent Counseling!

Lauren is passionate about helping children express themselves through creativity and play. One of her favorite activities in the playroom is engaging in child-led arts and crafts, where children can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in ways that feel natural and meaningful to them. She loves witnessing the growth, confidence, and self-expression that emerge through the creative process.

Outside of the playroom, Lauren enjoys Pilates, hiking, reading, and spending quality time with her family. Her favorite color is purple, a reflection of her warm, creative spirit!

For families considering Child-Centered Play Therapy, Lauren shares this encouragement:

"Trust the process and trust your child. During their time in play therapy, children often show us their incredible capacity for growth, healing, and resilience."

We are grateful to have Lauren as part of our team and look forward to supporting families alongside her.

With play and presence,

Lily Pad Counseling 🐸

07/15/2026

Bullying can feel like a child is trying to navigate a playground with invisible shifting ground. One moment, they feel steady, and the next, something knocks their sense of safety off balance.

For many children, these experiences don’t come out in direct stories right away. Instead, they often show up in behavior, emotions, and play before they ever become words.

You may notice:

• Avoidance of certain peers, places, or school

• Sudden anxiety or reluctance around routines

• Changes in mood, irritability, or withdrawal

• Regression or increased clinginess

• Repetitive themes of power, control, or exclusion in play

From a Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) lens, these are meaningful expressions of internal experience—not misbehavior. Play becomes the language where children begin to process what feels overwhelming or unsafe.

Learn:

• Validation builds safety before problem-solving

• Children communicate through play when words aren’t available

• Presence matters more than perfect responses

• Empowerment grows through shared, gentle collaboration

• Healing happens in relationships where a child feels seen and protected

Your child doesn’t need you to fix everything immediately; they need to feel that you can stay with them in what feels hard, listen closely, and believe what they’re experiencing.

If you’re noticing ongoing distress or repeated play themes connected to bullying, play therapy can offer a supportive space for healing, expression, and rebuilding confidence.

➡ Read Lauren’s full blog at Lily Pad Child & Adolescent Counseling

https://lilypad-counseling.com/blog/does-my-child-need-counseling-signs-for-parents-to-look-for/

➡Schedule your free parent consultation anytime

With play and presence,

Lily Pad Counseling 🐸

07/08/2026

Meet Gabrielle! She is one of the compassionate counselors at Lily Pad Child & Adolescent Counseling!

Gabrielle is passionate about helping children express themselves through play, creativity, and connection. She loves entering a child's world through art and play, creating a space where they feel seen, understood, and empowered to grow.

When she's not in the playroom, Gabrielle enjoys playing tennis, spending time outdoors, hiking with her dog Buddy, and making memories with family and friends. She also has a special love for the bright colors of sunrise and sunset, especially yellow, her favorite color!

For families considering Child-Centered Play Therapy, Gabrielle offers this encouragement:

"Have courage and trust in your child's ability to grow and flourish. Sometimes the most meaningful changes begin when children are given a safe space to be themselves."

We are so grateful to have Gabrielle on our team and can't wait for you to get to know her.

With play and presence,

Lily Pad Counseling 🐸💚

07/01/2026

In Child-Centered Play Therapy, we believe children have an incredible inner capacity for growth, healing, and self-direction. Rather than directing a child’s every move, the therapist creates a safe and accepting environment where the child can lead through their play, make choices, express emotions, and discover their own strengths.

Play becomes the child’s language, and through that language, they begin to build confidence, autonomy, problem-solving skills, and emotional understanding.

Sometimes, children do not need someone to steer them; they need someone who believes they are capable of finding their way.

With play and presence, Lily Pad Counseling 🐸

06/24/2026

Sometimes we look at a child's struggles and wonder how to help, what to say, or what to do next. But what if the child already holds the answers they need?

Brenna Hicks reminds us, "The child knows the way. The child has the answers. The child can heal."

In Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), we trust in a child's innate capacity for growth. Rather than directing, correcting, or leading, the therapist creates a safe and accepting relationship where the child can explore, express, and discover their own path forward through play.

We understand that:

• Children are naturally driven toward growth and healing

• Play allows children to process experiences at their own pace

• Trust fosters confidence, resilience, and self-awareness

• The therapeutic relationship provides safety for exploration

• Children often reveal their strengths when given the freedom to lead

Healing doesn't come from someone else having all the answers. Sometimes it begins when a child is given the space to find their own.

With play and presence,

Lily Pad Counseling 🐸

06/21/2026

Fatherhood is often found in the quiet moments.

A reassuring hand during a difficult day.

A patient listener after a hard experience.

A steady presence when emotions feel overwhelming.

Children thrive when they feel seen, heard, and accepted for who they are. While fathers may express love in different ways, a caring, attuned relationship can shape a child's confidence, resilience, and emotional well-being for years to come.

This Father's Day, we celebrate the fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, and father figures who create safe spaces for children to grow, explore, and be themselves.

Happy Father's Day to all who show up with love, presence, and care.

With play and presence,

Lily Pad Counseling 🐸

06/18/2026

The play therapy community mourns the loss of a pioneer whose work forever changed the way we understand and support children.

Dr. Garry Landreth's unwavering belief in the healing power of play gave voice to children around the world and shaped generations of play therapists. His teachings continue to remind us that children are capable, resilient, and deserving of relationships built on trust, acceptance, and understanding.

One of his most cherished reflections captures the heart of Child-Centered Play Therapy:

"I am not all knowing. Therefore, I will not even attempt to be. I need to be loved. Therefore, I will be open to loving children. I want to be more accepting of the child in me. Therefore, I will with wonder and awe allow children to illuminate my world."

— Garry L. Landreth

His words invite us to approach children not as problems to be solved, but as individuals to be understood. Through wonder, acceptance, and genuine connection, he showed us how powerful the therapeutic relationship can be.

As we reflect on his remarkable legacy, we are deeply grateful for the wisdom, compassion, and hope he brought to the field of play therapy. His influence will continue to ripple through playrooms, families, and children's lives for generations to come.

Thank you, Dr. Landreth, for helping us see the world through a child's eyes.

With gratitude and remembrance,

Lily Pad Counseling🐸

12/10/2025

Parenting can feel a lot like navigating an unpredictable ocean some days calm, some days stormy, and sometimes you’re just trying to keep the boat afloat.

If you’ve noticed changes in your child’s behavior, emotions, or mood and wondered, “Is this just a phase… or does my child need support?” you’re not alone. Kids don’t always have the words to express what’s going on inside, but they do communicate through their play, actions, and feelings.

In this week’s blog, Lauren Walter, LPC-A, breaks down the signs that may indicate your child could benefit from counseling and explains why Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is such a powerful and developmentally appropriate approach for helping children heal.

Learn:
• What emotional or behavioral signs to look for
• Why play is a child’s natural language
• How CCPT works (and what actually happens in a session!)
• How early support can foster resilience, confidence, and emotional wellness

If something in your child’s world feels “off,” trust your instinct. You don’t have to have all the answers, you just have to know when to reach out.

➡ Read Lauren’s full blog at Lily Pad Child & Adolescent Counseling
https://lilypad-counseling.com/blog/does-my-child-need-counseling-signs-for-parents-to-look-for/
➡Schedule your free parent consultation anytime

With play and presence,
Lily Pad Counseling 🐸

12/03/2025

Grief looks different for children than it does for adults. While grown-ups often use words to process loss, children express their deepest feelings through play.
In this week’s blog, Lauren Walter, LPC-Associate, shares a compassionate guide to understanding how children grieve — and how play becomes a powerful pathway toward healing.
From symbolic play to big emotions, from regression to resilience, Lauren explains how Child Centered Play Therapy helps children express what they can’t yet say, at their own pace, in their own way.
If your child or family has experienced a loss, you don’t have to walk this journey alone. ❤️
Read the full blog on our website.
With play and presence,
Lily Pad Child & Adolescent Counseling

11/27/2025