What to Expect When You Reach Out for Play Therapy in St. Louis
A step-by-step guide to our free consultation call and process at Bud to Bloom Play Therapy
Reaching out for support for your child can feel like a big step. Many parents tell us they’re unsure what will happen next or what to expect from play therapy. You deserve to feel prepared, informed, and confident in your next steps, so this guide walks you through our full process—from your first call to graduation from our services.
Whether you’re seeking pediatric play therapy, virtual therapy for teenagers in Missouri, or one-on-one St. Louis parenting support, we’re here to support you and your family with clarity, connection, understanding, and growth.
Step One: Your First Consultation Call
How do you get started with Bud to Bloom? We welcome live calls (314-314-9961), or you can choose a time for us to call you—whichever makes the most sense for you. On your first call, you’ll speak with one of our Client Care Coordinators.
Don’t worry, this isn’t a therapy session! It’s a chance to connect, ask questions, and see if we’re the right fit for your family.
What Happens on the Call?
This first call usually lasts between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on your pace, questions, and needs. During that time, we’ll:
Get to know more about your kiddo and family’s situation
Ask what led you to reach out for support now
Listen carefully and reflect back what we hear
Answer your questions about services and next steps
We take time to truly listen. You won’t receive advice or treatment during this call, but you will feel heard and supported.
Why We Ask Questions First
You might be wondering why we don’t jump straight into pricing or scheduling. The reason is simple: we want to understand your child’s needs first. Every child is different. Every family is unique. By learning more about your situation, we can recommend the best support for your family—whether that’s us or someone else.
Step Two: Understanding Your Goals
After hearing your story, we’ll ask an important question: What changes do you hope to see in your child or family after a few months of therapy?
This helps us understand your goals. For example, you might want your child to:
Manage big feelings more easily
Reduce challenging behaviors
Improve family communication and connection
We’ll reflect back what we hear and explain how our services may help meet those goals.
Step Three: How Pediatric Play Therapy Works
Our approach is different from traditional talk therapy that adults often think of. In pediatric play therapy, we use the child’s first language: play.
Why Play Therapy?
Children often can’t fully express their thoughts and feelings with words. And even when they can, this might take a lot of effort and not yet feel natural for them. Through play, children can:
Show what they are experiencing internally
Process difficult emotions
Build confidence and emotional skills
Instead of only teaching coping skills, we use play therapy to focus on understanding the root of the behavior. This leads to longer lasting change.
What do Play Therapy Sessions Look Like?
At Bud to Bloom Play Therapy, we start with weekly 45-minute play therapy sessions with your kiddo in one of our play rooms. In a child-centered play therapy session, your kid chooses what to play and how to play it. One of our trained child therapists creates a safe, calm space and follows the child’s lead while they use toys and games to show their feelings and thoughts. As they play, the therapist listens and helps them understand their emotions in a simple, supportive way.
We also incorporate free 15-minute parent check-ins each month, as well as parent support sessions to discuss more complex changes, questions, and skills and strategies for you to use at home to complement the therapy we’re doing.
Parents stay involved throughout the process because you are the most important person in your child’s life.
Step Four: Other Services We May Recommend
Depending on your needs, we may suggest a combination of services:
Family Therapy in Missouri
Supports connection between you and your child. Sessions may include both parent-only time and time with your child. Our play therapists are especially trained in family therapy with adoptive families, foster care families, and unique family structures.
Therapeutic Parent Coaching
Feel more confident responding to your child’s needs and behaviors. We understand that parenting doesn’t come with a manual but that we often do inherit our parents’ parenting scripts. Our play-based therapists are here to help you learn more playful parenting that truly works, and helps both you and your kiddo feel calmer and more connected.
Group Therapy
Provides a supportive space for kids and parents to build skills and connections with others. We have various groups running at different times in the year.
We will always recommend what we believe is the best fit for your family.
Step Five: What if We’re Not the Right Fit?
Sometimes, a family’s needs fall outside our areas of expertise. If that happens, we’ll be honest with you and provide referrals to trusted providers (like physical therapists and psychologists for evaluations.) Our goal is always to help your child get the care they need, even if that’s not with us.
Step Six: Setting Expectations for Therapy
Before we schedule you for therapy, we like to make sure you know what to expect.
Working with children isn’t a quick fix! Most families attend play therapy with us for 8-12 months on average. Sometimes families are with us for longer or shorter, depending on their needs.
Change can take time, and it may not be obvious right away. Your therapist will guide you through the process and keep you informed.
Weekly Sessions Matter
We recommend weekly sessions because they:
Build momentum
Help children feel safe and consistent
Lead to faster progress
Are most supported by evidence and research
Families who attend weekly sessions often see better outcomes than those who attend less often.
Step Seven: Understanding Pricing
We use aflexible, justice-oriented pricing modelto make therapy more accessible. Families choose a rate that fits their situation, with several tiers available. All families receive the same high quality of care, no matter their tier.
We also discuss options like superbills for possible insurance reimbursement and guidance on how to contact your insurance provider. We’re happy to talk you through all options so there are no surprises.
Step Eight: Scheduling Your Intake Appointment
If we’re a good fit for your family, the next step is scheduling your parent-only intake session. This 60-minute session gives you space to discuss your child’s history, strengths, and needs with your therapist. Together, you’ll collaborate on an initial plan and goals for therapy.
We offer in-person or virtual intake sessions, which many parents find easier for scheduling.
Step Nine: Getting Started with Play Therapy
After your intake session, your child will begin weekly play therapy. Your therapist will build a relationship with your child through play. You’ll receive regular updates and support.
Over time, many parents notice improved emotional regulation, better behavior, and stronger parent-child connection.
Step Ten: Progress and Graduation
Therapy doesn’t last forever! As your child meets their goals, we’ll begin conversations about ending therapy. If it’s appropriate, we’ll gradually reduce sessions to biweekly. Together, we’ll prepare your child for the transition.
Ending therapy is handled with care. We help children process this change and celebrate their progress.
We often say it’s a “goodbye for now” because families are welcome to return if support is needed in the future.
Ready to Take the First Step?
If you’re considering pediatric play therapy in St. Louis, reaching out is the first step toward understanding your child more deeply and creating lasting change.
Our trained child and family therapists are eager to meet you and support your family’s growth. Reach out today to schedule your free consultation call for play therapy.