Is Bud to Bloom Play Therapy the Right Fit for Your Family?
Choosing a therapist for your child is one of the most important decisions you will make for them, and you deserve real information to help you make it. Not just a nice website and a friendly photo, you deserve to know what to expect and what to look for. At Bud to Bloom we work exclusively with children, teens, and their families in St. Louis, and we think it is worth being upfront about who we are, how we work, and honestly, whether we are the right fit for your family or not. Here is a real look at all of it.
And before we even get into it: give yourself some credit. The fact that you are here, researching, asking questions, and advocating for your child is already a big deal. That matters.
What should I look for when choosing a child therapist?
Finding the right therapist is a little like finding the right pair of shoes. You want something that actually fits, not just something that looks good on the shelf. Here are the things worth looking into before you commit anywhere, including with us.
Qualifications and training. Look at what the therapist has studied and what specialized training they have. A therapist who works with children should have more than a general counseling license. Ask about specific training in child development, childhood trauma, play therapy, or whatever concerns your child is bringing in. At Bud to Bloom all of our therapists are trained in evidence-based, child-focused approaches and we provide ongoing staff training to keep our team sharp and growing.
Who they actually work with. This one is important. Working with children is genuinely different from working with adults and requires a specific set of skills and knowledge. It is key to make sure your child's therapist has real experience with children specifically. We work exclusively with children and teens ages zero to eighteen and their families. This is all we do. Our team knows child development and behavior inside and out because that is our entire clinical focus.
Their approach. Every therapist works differently and it is worth asking about it directly. What techniques do they use? Do they use play, art, or talk therapy? How do they involve parents in the process? At Bud to Bloom we primarily use child-centered play therapy and relationship-based therapies, both evidence-based approaches where we meet the child where they are. You can read more about out play therapy services here!
How they involve you as the parent. You are not a bystander in your child's healing. The right therapist will have a real plan for keeping you informed and supported throughout the process, not just at the beginning.
Your gut. Seriously. Both you and your child should feel comfortable and safe with the therapist. If something does not feel right after a consultation, it is completely okay to keep looking. Talk to a few therapists, feel it out, and make the choice that feels best for your family. Trusting your instincts is part of the process.
What makes Bud to Bloom different from other child therapists in St. Louis?
A few things, and we share these not to brag but because we genuinely think they matter when you are making this decision.
We are specialists, not generalists. Children ages zero to eighteen and their families, full stop. That means everything about how we train, how we practice, and how we think about the work is built around children. We know child development deeply. We know how children communicate, how they process, and why they behave the way they do. When you bring your child to us, you are getting a team that is passionate about children, youth, and families all day every day.
We invest in our team continuously. Our therapists do not just get licensed and figure it out on their own. We provide ongoing staff training and clinical support so our team is always growing in their ability to offer compassionate, effective care.
We focus on the child, not just the behavior. This is probably the thing that surprises parents most. I know this seems counterintuitive, especially since one of our specialties is supporting children with big or challenging behaviors. But we address behavior a bit differently here, and it is intentional.
Some approaches to child therapy focus directly on the behavior itself, building skills, practicing different choices, working on reward systems. Those things have their place and time. But at Bud to Bloom we want to start by understanding what is underneath the behavior. What is your child feeling? What do they believe about themselves? What is happening in their inner world that makes it so hard to use the skills they already have?
Here is what most parents already sense but do not always have words for: most children who are struggling already know what they are supposed to do. They know they should not hit or shut down or refuse to go to school. And yet they do it anyway. That tells us the issue is not a lack of skills. It is something deeper and that’s where we want to start.
When a child feels truly accepted and understood exactly as they are, something shifts. They start to extend that same acceptance to themselves. That internal shift is what changes behavior in a lasting way, because it gets to the root instead of just the surface. You can read more about this in our post on what play therapy actually is.
Who do we work with at Bud to Bloom?
Children and teens from birth to eighteen and their families. That is our entire focus.
Within that, our team has deep experience with a wide range of concerns. Our core specialties are childhood trauma, foster and adoptive youth, children with big or challenging behaviors, and families navigating major life transitions. We also have therapists on our team who specialize in parent support, teens , anxiety, neurodivergent youth, and LGBTQIA+ children and teens.
Some of the most common reasons families find us include:
Feeling disconnected from their child and struggling to understand or reach them
Behaviors at home or school that have started to disrupt the whole family
A child or teen dealing with anxiety or depression
A major life change such as divorce, a move, a new sibling, or a family disruption
Grief, loss, or something scary or hard happening in the child's life
A child struggling with self-esteem or having a difficult time with friendships and peers
A new ADHD or ASD diagnosis and a family wanting support in understanding what their child needs
If any of those sound familiar, you are in the right place. And if your situation is not on that list, reach out anyway. The best way to know if we are a good fit is to have a real conversation.
How do we involve parents in the work?
We want to be really clear about this because it is something we feel strongly about.
You are not going to be left in the waiting room wondering what is happening in there. You are a partner in your child's healing and we treat you that way.
Here is how it works in practice. Each week you will fill out a brief parent check-in form sharing how things have been going at home. If you want to connect with your child's therapist directly, just let us know in the form and they will follow up with either a 15-minute parent consultation or a full parent session, depending on what you need.
Every few sessions we schedule a dedicated parent session where your child's therapist shares themes and patterns they are noticing in the work. They will also support you in understanding your child and building skills to support them at home. You stay genuinely informed without us sharing specifics from your child's session, because your child deserves to know their time in the playroom is private. Your child should be able to trust that their session belongs to them. And you should feel connected and supported every step of the way. We have found a way to do both.
Ready to find out if we are a good fit?
The best way to find out is to talk to us. Our free consultation call is 15 to 20 minutes with our client care team, no commitment, no paperwork, just a real conversation about your family and what you are looking for.
From there we will answer your questions and match you with the therapist on our team who is the best fit for your child's age, concerns, and needs. You are not getting whoever has an opening. You are getting someone who is genuinely suited to support your child.
Schedule your free consultation here.
What if my child has already tried therapy and it did not help?
This comes up a lot and we want to address it directly and honestly.
Not all therapy approaches are the same, and not all therapists are the right fit for every person. A talk therapy approach with a five-year-old who cannot yet articulate what they are feeling is going to look very different from a play-based approach that meets that child where they are developmentally. If your child has tried therapy before and you did not see the progress you hoped for, that does not automatically mean therapy is not for your child. It may mean the approach or the fit was not quite right.
This is exactly why our initial parent intake is a 60-minute session with just you and your child's therapist, no child in the room. You can get into the real details of what has been happening and what has already been tried, without self-editing or worrying about what your child is hearing. That honesty helps us start from a place of true understanding rather than starting from scratch. The intake also gives you a chance to get a feel for the therapist, understand their process, and make sure it feels like the right fit for your family before sessions with your child even begin.
What if Bud to Bloom is not the right fit for us?
We will tell you honestly.
We are confident in our ability to support a wide range of children and families in St. Louis. But we are not the right fit for everyone, and we know that. If during our consultation or intake we feel your child's needs would be better served by a different kind of support, we will say so and help point you in the right direction.
Getting your child the right support matters more to us than filling a spot on our calendar.
FAQ
What ages does Bud to Bloom work with?
We work with children and teens from birth to eighteen and their families. Children and adolescents are all we do, which means our team has deep, focused expertise in child development across every stage of childhood.
How do I know which therapist on your team is right for my child?
You do not have to figure that out on your own. During our free consultation call our client care team learns about your family, your child's age, and the concerns you are bringing in, then matches you with the therapist who is the best fit based on their training and experience. Learn more about our team here.
What if my child has been to therapy before and it did not work?
Previous therapy that did not go as hoped does not mean therapy will not work for your child. It often means the approach or the fit was not right. Our 60-minute parent-only intake gives us a chance to understand the full picture, including what has already been tried, before we ever meet your child.
How is the Bud to Bloom approach different from skill-building or behavioral therapy?
Skill-building approaches focus on the behavior itself and on teaching children different ways to respond. At Bud to Bloom we focus on what is underneath the behavior , the feelings, beliefs, and internal experiences that make using skills feel impossible in hard moments. When a child feels genuinely accepted and understood, behavior tends to shift from the inside out. That is what makes the change stick.
How do I get started?
The easiest first step is our free consultation call, just 15 to 20 minutes with our client care team. No commitment, no paperwork, just a real conversation. Fill out the form here and someone will be in touch.
Meet the author!
Jasmine Berger, LCSW RPT-S is a registered play therapist supervisor and founder of Bud to Bloom Play Therapy in St. Louis, Missouri. She and her team specialize in helping children, teens, and families feel more connected, more regulated, and more like themselves. Learn more about our team here.
