Children & Adolescents

Welcome to Urban Playology!

We understand that for young people who may identify as gay, lesbian, eccentric, kinesthetic, gender non-conforming, transgender, questioning, gender fluid, the list certainly goes on, life may not be so colorful.

But we also want them to learn that through hurt, unacceptance, or pain, there will always be seeds of resiliency planted on the inside. At Urban Playology, we help young people water those seeds so they can blossom!

• Children tend to share their innermost thoughts & feelings through the use of play and expressive arts therapies. Hence, we provide trauma-informed play therapy for children, coupled with art-based interventions.
• Our work with adolescents typically involves expressive arts along with integrative, eclectic talk therapy for young adults.
• We encourage parents, guardians, caregivers, and other significant grownups who influence how the young person(s) views themselves in the world to actively participate in all phases of the therapeutic process. This further guarantees optimal outcomes.

A Letter to the Parents of Eccentric Young People

Some of you may have always known that your child is different. You noticed that they seem to love differently than what you knew to be “love” when you were young. Or maybe they don’t seem to align with binary gender constructs. Maybe your child rarely fits in.

Your child is different in some way, and you honor that. But the world doesn’t seem to. You’ve been forced to watch your little love slip away into themselves, despite your many attempts to celebrate them.

However, neither of you wants them to lose their light. Not you. Not them. What your child needs is a way to preserve that life and that light within.

A safe space. Safe, affirming people for your child to be around. It’s both a journey of trial and error and a deep dance with trust, trying to find these for your young one. And that’s why we offer the helping hand that we do.

Play therapy and expressive arts therapies provide young people with the unconditional positive regard and resources they need to find their own solid footing. They inspire strength in them to name their pain. To heal from the pain of being a young outlier.

To the parents: it’s not easy being a parent. Still, we want to congratulate you for it. Because we believe that by taking this big step and coming to us, you deeply love your child. And you want them to live their best and fullest lives. Your little loves are lucky to have someone like you raising them and advocating for them.

You don’t have all the answers, and you’re not supposed to. Nevertheless, enlisting the support of a trained and caring therapist might just be your chance card. We’re honored that you are considering us for your family’s needs. And we can’t wait to hold your hand and that of your young one on this journey to a lovely life.

If you’d like to read more about one famous parent’s perspective on the trials and tribulations of intergenerational parenting, click here!