Get in touch with us at counsellingbybrooklynn@gmail.com
Theraplay
Theraplay helps children and caregivers reconnect through play, nurture, structure, and shared joy.
It can be helpful for families navigating big feelings, tantrums, anxiety, defiance, separation anxiety, aggression, or parent-child relationship struggles.
Through simple, playful activities, Theraplay supports emotional regulation, attachment, trust, and connection—helping children feel safer, more confident, and more deeply understood.
What is Theraplay?
Theraplay is a play-based, attachment-focused therapy approach that helps strengthen the relationship between a child and their caregiver.
Rather than focusing only on “fixing behaviour,” Theraplay looks underneath the behaviour to support a child’s sense of safety, connection, emotional regulation, and trust.
​
Children often communicate through their behaviour before they have the words to explain what they are feeling. Big emotions, tantrums, defiance, clinginess, separation anxiety, aggression, shutdowns, or difficulty listening can sometimes be signs that a child is feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, anxious, or unsure how to manage what is happening inside.
​
Theraplay uses structured, playful, nurturing, and connection-based activities to help children feel seen, safe, and supported by their caregiver. Sessions may include simple games, movement, eye contact, gentle nurture, shared laughter, rhythm, and activities that help build trust, confidence, cooperation, and emotional security.
Who is Theraplay for?
Theraplay can be helpful for children and families looking for support with:
​
-
Child behaviour concerns
-
Tantrums and emotional outbursts
-
Aggression, hitting, yelling, or defiance
-
Separation anxiety or clinginess
-
Big feelings and emotional regulation
-
Parent-child relationship struggles
-
Attachment concerns
-
Difficulty with transitions or routines
-
Low confidence or low self-esteem in children
-
Anxiety in children
-
Challenges with listening, cooperation, or connection
-
Foster, adoptive, or blended family transitions
-
Stress after big life changes, such as divorce, moving, loss, or a new sibling
​
Theraplay is especially helpful when parents feel like they have tried consequences, rewards, talking, or traditional parenting strategies, but their child is still struggling.
What parents need to know
Theraplay is a play-based therapy that helps children and caregivers build stronger connection, trust, and emotional security. It can be helpful for children who struggle with big feelings, tantrums, anxiety, defiance, aggression, separation anxiety, or difficulty listening.
​
Rather than focusing only on behaviour, Theraplay looks underneath the behaviour to understand what a child may be needing emotionally. Through playful, structured, and nurturing activities, Theraplay supports emotional regulation, attachment, confidence, and the parent-child relationship.
​
Parents are included in the process because the goal is to strengthen the relationship between the child and caregiver, not just help the child behave differently in the therapy room.
About the Practioner
My name is Brooklynn Ebenal
Hi, I’m Brooklynn. As a mom myself, I know how challenging it can be to navigate children’s behaviour, big feelings, tantrums, and emotional ups and downs.
With my background as a teacher, clinical training, personal experience, and Theraplay Level One training, I bring together knowledge of child development, attachment, and parent-child connection to support families in a warm and practical way.
​
I believe connection often comes before behaviour change. Through Theraplay-informed sessions, I help parents and children strengthen their relationship, build trust, and support emotional regulation through playful, nurturing, connection-based activities.
​
Let’s chat and see whether Theraplay may be a helpful fit for your family!
Email: counsellingbybrooklynn@gmail.com or text 587-377-6681.
