We Play — But We Aren’t Play Therapists

At Raising Brave Kids, our therapy rooms are filled with games, art supplies, and plenty of toys. We laugh, build, draw — and yes, we play. But we aren’t play therapists. Our approach is directive and guided, using play as a tool to help kids move toward their goals.

For children struggling with anxiety, that distinction is important. Anxiety thrives on avoidance — and while a fully non-directive approach can be nurturing, it may also allow avoidance to grow stronger. Our work is different: we use directive play therapy techniques grounded in research-based treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), so kids gain real-life skills to face their fears.

Why We Use Directive Play Therapy for Anxious Kids

Play is a natural way for children to explore and connect. But at Raising Brave Kids, play isn’t random — it’s purposeful. Every game, activity, or creative project is chosen to help your child:

• Practice approaching instead of avoiding

• Learn coping skills for anxious thoughts

• Tolerate discomfort while still feeling safe

For example:

• If your child feels anxious about speaking in front of others, we might turn it into a playful puppet “show,” starting just with us, then slowly adding an audience learning lots of coping and thinking strategies along the way.

• If your child is afraid of messes or germs, we may play a silly “messy art” game to help them face that discomfort in small, supported steps. We highlight their ability to tolerate challenging feelings and work on skills to help them get through similar moments outside of session.

The Problem with a Fully Non-Directive Play Approach for Anxiety

Many parents search for “play therapy” when looking for help — and non-directive play therapy can be wonderful for building trust, self-expression, and processing emotions. But when anxiety is the main challenge, kids often need more than just space to play.

Anxiety tells kids: Avoid the scary thing. If therapy never invites them toward the scary thing in safe, planned ways, anxiety wins. This is why CBT and ERP are considered the gold standard for child anxiety and OCD treatment — they actively guide children toward facing fears, not away from them (Kendall et al., 1997; Peris et al., 2017).

Play with a Purpose

At Raising Brave Kids, play is the bridge that makes brave work possible. Kids engage, laugh, and connect — but underneath it all, we are teaching them how to:

• Recognize anxious patterns

• Face fears step-by-step

• Build confidence through mastery

• Practice healthy coping skills

Our therapy is both fun and effective, blending the natural language of play with science-backed strategies to help children and families thrive.

If your child struggles with anxiety, we can help. We offer playful CBT with ERP in Portland, Oregon, and online therapy in California and throughout Oregon.

Contact us to schedule a consultation and start your child’s journey toward bravery.