According to the Association for Play Therapy, play therapy is “the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development." Learn more specifics here!

Every client is as unique as their stories and what brings them to therapy. So length in treatment does vary based on complexity, severity, and goals for each client.

However, in play therapy, research suggests that the average time in therapy is about 20 sessions or about 5 months with weekly attendance.

For adults, the average is also around 5 months.

Right now, Iris Mental Health & Counseling is only in person for all clients engaging in play therapy. I believe the therapeutic work to be more effective in person and can be difficult to replicate online. Therapy is an investment and I want clients and parents to get the most out of the experience.

For young adults, I do offer virtual sessions as long as you are in the state of Colorado.

For children under 12 years old:

As a parent, we know you're invested in your child’s progress! A major factor in successful play therapy is the therapeutic relationship—the bond of trust between your child and me. To help nurture this trust and ensure your child feels safe to open up, I maintain their privacy and confidentiality regarding the details of their sessions. The specific content of what was discussed or played with in the room remains confidential.

However, I will share general themes we are working on, suggestions for activities or approaches to support their growth at home, and of course any safety concerns.

For children 12 and older:

In Colorado, the legal age of consent for outpatient mental health services is 12 years old. At this age, the right to confidentiality shifts entirely to your child (the client). This means that, outside of safety concerns, I can only share information with you that your child explicitly permits me to share.

However, I am a firm believer that parental involvement, collaboration, and encouragement are essential for success. This is why, even when your child is over 12 and can consent to their own treatment, I still require parental consent forms to be signed—we are working as a team!

No, I am not in-network with any insurance provider. I can provide a superbill for you to submit for potential out of network benefit reimbursement.

Why Not?

Deciding not to accept insurance was a choice made with your privacy and therapeutic freedom as the priority. Here is the reasoning behind this practice:

Protecting Your Privacy: Insurance companies require a formal mental health diagnosis to cover treatment. This diagnosis becomes a permanent part of your medical record. By working outside the insurance system, I ensure this information remains entirely confidential.

Focusing Beyond Labels: Insurance wants to see the medical necessity of treatment. My therapeutic approach is built on the belief that healing, change, and growth do not require a formal diagnosis or label. Many people seek therapy for personal development, life stress, or relationship difficulties—none of which are necessarily diagnosable disorders. This can definitely be the case with kiddos! I want to honor that path without needing to apply a clinical term to your medical record.

Prioritizing Your Goals: Insurance plans often dictate the number of sessions they will cover. I want the length of your treatment to be determined by your unique needs and goals, not by an arbitrary limit.

Professional Ethics: My practice follows the American Counseling Association Code of Ethics. My ethical duty is to always act in your best interest, and assigning a diagnosis solely to secure coverage is unethical. Not to mention it is also insurance fraud.

By choosing to be private pay, I eliminate the "third party" from the clinical decision-making process, allowing your needs and the therapeutic relationship to remain the sole priority.

Therapy is a place where you can learn, grow, and explore any concerns, challenges, or curiosities you have about you and your life.

You might choose to focus on areas such as:

• Exploring the "why" behind actions and relationship patterns to foster greater understanding.

• Making connections between your past experiences and your current feelings or behaviors.

• Defining and pursuing your deepest values, needs, and aspirations.

• Analyzing how social, family, and peer influences shape your identity and choices.

• Planning proactive steps to manage emotional challenges during specific times of the year, like the holidays.

• Finding support and tools for navigating the pain of grief and loss.

• Healing from the impact of distressing events.

But I am also here to help guide those conversations and uncover new paths you might want to explore.

Just you! Simply show up as you are. I am here to meet you right where you are at.

It’s also beneficial to come with an open mind and a desire for self-discovery. Some clients like to bring a journal or notepad, but that is entirely optional.

If it is your first session, make sure you complete the online intake paperwork before the session.

Initially, I recommend weekly sessions. This consistency helps establish the trust needed for significant emotional growth. As you experience improvement, we will gradually reduce sessions to biweekly, and eventually transition to monthly check-ins. My job is to work myself out of a job!

It is not uncommon for progress to be gradual. Consistency helps with that progress. In therapy, you are building and strengthening new muscles you may never have used before. Like working out in the gym, it takes some time to reach your goals.

You might first start to notice progress in the way you think, feel, and interact in the world. This could be increased hope, reduction in previous symptoms, increased energy, being less self-critical, better relationships, and increase resilience. Every client is different and we will continually discuss goals and progress throughout treatment.