Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

How do I know if my child could benefit from counseling?

Children come to counseling for many different reasons. Some of the most common concerns include:

• Difficulty regulating emotions

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Anger

• Behavioral challenges

• Grief and loss

• Trauma

• Poor self-esteem

• School-related concerns

• Social challenges

• Family changes

• Attachment difficulties

• Foster care and adoption-related concerns

Every child is unique, and therapy is tailored to their individual strengths and needs.

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How do I get started?

Getting started is simple.

1. Contact Becky through this website's intake form or via Psychology Today.

2. Becky will determine whether your concerns are a good fit for her therapeutic specialties and current availability.

3. If appropriate, you’ll receive intake paperwork to complete.

4. Once your paperwork is finished, we’ll schedule your initial parent consultation.

5. After the parent consultation, we’ll establish a regular therapy schedule for your child.

6. Every 3–5 sessions (depending on your child’s needs), we’ll meet again with parents to discuss progress, treatment goals, what’s working well at home, and make any needed adjustments to the treatment plan.

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Do you accept insurance?

Yes. Limited to the following forms of insurance:

• Home State Health

• Only Straight Medicaid

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How much does counseling cost?

• Individual Sessions: $120

• Sliding scale: apply if you may be eligible

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What happens during my child’s first appointment?

The first appointment is a parent-only consultation. During this meeting, we’ll discuss your concerns, gather important background information, answer your questions, and begin building a collaborative relationship.

Because this conversation often involves sensitive topics, we ask that children do not attend this first meeting.

Your child’s first individual therapy session will be scheduled after the parent consultation.

Before the first visit, we recommend telling your child that:

“Miss Becky is a safe adult who helps kids with big feelings.”

If your child enjoys school, you might also say:

“Miss Becky is kind of like a teacher who helps kids with big feelings.”

Children are introduced to the playroom in a developmentally appropriate way that helps them feel safe, comfortable, and welcome.

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About Play Therapy

What is the difference between play therapy and traditional talk therapy?

Adults often process experiences through conversation, but children communicate most naturally through play.

Research shows children are not born with the ability to think or communicate about abstract concepts like emotions. Those skills develop gradually as the brain matures.

To meet children at their developmental level, Registered Play Therapists use toys, art, games, sand trays, and other creative activities to help children:

• Express emotions

• Share their experiences

• Solve problems

• Process difficult events

• Learn healthy coping skills

Play allows children to communicate in ways that feel natural, safe, and developmentally appropriate.

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Does my child need play therapy or behavior therapy?

Therapy can be helpful for your child when they encounter emotions or situations that they aren’t sure how to navigate and may need some extra support. Counseling is not always the best way to aid a child. Sometimes, a sport, musical instrument, new relationship, OT/PT will be more helpful. If Miss Becky thinks that is true, she will be sure to let you know.

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How long is a counseling session?

Most counseling sessions and parent meetings last approximately 50 minutes. The exact format and frequency of sessions will depend on whether you are private pay or using insurance.

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How often will my child attend therapy?

Most children begin with weekly sessions. As progress is made, sessions may gradually transition to every other week or monthly maintenance visits. Recommendations are always based on your child’s individual needs and treatment goals.

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Will I be involved in my child’s therapy?

Absolutely. At Fostering Hope Play Therapy, parents are the experts on their children.

While your child needs a private and safe therapeutic space, we’ll meet regularly to discuss progress, answer questions, adjust the treatment plan, and identify ways you can support your child’s growth and healing at home.

Parents play a vital role throughout the counseling process.

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Is everything my child says confidential?

Counseling is most effective when children feel safe sharing their thoughts and feelings.

Information shared during sessions is generally confidential. Parents receive regular updates regarding treatment goals, themes, progress, and recommendations rather than every detail discussed in therapy.

Safety always takes priority over confidentiality. If there is concern that a child may harm themselves or someone else, appropriate information will be shared to help keep everyone safe.

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Common Concerns

My child is having problems at school. Can counseling help?

Yes. Rebecca has a background in school counseling and is familiar with school systems, classroom accommodations, IEPs, and 504 Plans.

Counseling can help children struggling with:

• School anxiety

• Emotional regulation

• Peer relationships

• Behavioral concerns

• Self-esteem

• Attention difficulties

• Academic stress

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Can play therapy help with anxiety?

Yes. Play therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for many children experiencing anxiety. Through play, children learn to recognize emotions, develop healthy coping skills, and build confidence while processing worries in a safe, supportive environment.

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Can play therapy help children with ADHD?

Yes. Play therapy can help children develop greater self-awareness, improve emotional regulation, strengthen coping skills, and practice strategies that support attention, self-control, and problem-solving.

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Why is my child acting out after a major life change?

Children are often more adaptable than adults in some ways because their brains are still developing, but they also rely heavily on consistency, familiar relationships, and predictable routines to feel safe.

Because children have fewer life experiences and more limited coping skills, they often express emotional distress through behavior rather than words. Acting out, increased irritability, withdrawal, or even physical complaints without a medical explanation may all be signs that a child is struggling to process a significant life change.

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Trauma & Attachment

Do you help children who have experienced trauma?

Yes. Trauma is one of Rebecca’s primary areas of specialization.

She is trained in evidence-based trauma treatments including Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) through Child Advocacy Center and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) through EMDRIA.

Therapy helps children process difficult experiences, build coping skills, and regain a sense of safety, confidence, and hope.

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What are signs of trauma in children?

Trauma can affect every child differently.

Some common signs include:

• Nightmares or sleep problems

• Increased anxiety or fearfulness

• Avoiding reminders of difficult experiences

• Emotional outbursts

• Irritability

• Difficulty concentrating

• Regression to younger behaviors

• Physical complaints without a medical explanation

• Hypervigilance or being easily startled

• Withdrawal from family or friends

Some children meet the diagnostic criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), while others experience what is often referred to as “little t” trauma—situations that overwhelm their current ability to cope.

At Fostering Hope Play Therapy, every child’s experience is taken seriously, regardless of whether it meets the formal criteria for PTSD.

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How long does it take a child to heal from trauma?

Every child’s healing journey is different.

Recovery depends on many factors, including:

• The type and duration of the trauma

• The supportiveness of caregivers

• Previous trauma history

• The child’s resilience

• Family support

• How quickly treatment begins

Healing is not about “getting over it.” It’s about helping children process difficult experiences, build healthy coping skills, strengthen relationships, and regain a sense of safety.

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What is attachment therapy?

Attachment therapy focuses on strengthening the relationship between a child and their caregiver.

Because healthy attachment develops through relationships, both the caregiver and child participate in the therapeutic process, although some education and emotional work may occur separately.

Theraplay® is one evidence-based approach designed to strengthen attachment between children and caregivers. Rebecca has completed Level 1 Theraplay training.

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Foster Care & Adoption

Do you work with foster and adopted children?

Yes. Many of Rebecca’s clients are children involved in foster care, adoption, guardianship, kinship care, or family reunification.

She has extensive experience helping children and families navigate difficult transitions, grief, loss, trauma, attachment challenges, dissociation, feelings of powerlessness, and relationship building.

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How can counseling help my adopted child?

Children who are adopted experience loss and grief regardless of their age at adoption or the circumstances surrounding it.

Therapy provides a safe place for children to process questions about identity, attachment, belonging, trust, grief, and relationships while helping parents better understand and support their child’s emotional needs.

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How do I help my foster child adjust to a new home?

Play therapy provides children with a safe space to process the grief of separation from their family of origin, the trauma they may have experienced, identify and express emotions, strengthen relationships, and develop healthy coping skills during major life transitions.

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Faith & Counseling

Do you provide Christian counseling?

Yes. Christian principles can be thoughtfully incorporated into counseling whenever requested by families.

Rebecca believes therapy should honor each family’s values, beliefs, and worldview. Every parent and child will be treated with dignity, respect, and compassion, regardless of their beliefs.