Child Play Therapy in New Jersey
Child therapy for children with big emotions.
Our office is located at: 28 Valley Rd, Montclair, NJ 07042
Our approach
At Rooted Rhythm Therapy, play is at the heart of how we support children. For kids, play is their most natural way of communicating, so we lean into that to meet your child exactly where they are. It's how we help them feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood.
Our Montclair play therapy space is designed to be a place where children can simply be themselves, free from judgment or pressure to "get it right." When kids are given room to express themselves this way, they're able to work through their experiences and build a deeper understanding of who they are. Our therapists tune in closely to each child, so your little one feels truly known.
We also see parents as essential to this process, not simply as bystanders to it. While so much of the healing unfolds within the therapeutic relationship, it's just as important that it extends into the relationship between you and your child. That's why we partner closely with parents to help you better understand both yourself and your kiddo.
Because parent coaching is woven into every child therapy session, you'll walk away feeling more equipped to face big emotions alongside your child—and within yourself. We also encourage parents to work through our TUNED IN parenting course, so you can engage in your own growth during this journey.
Families who work with us also receive lifetime access to the Tuned In Institute education portal, complete with our personal AI concierge, Remi.
What we can help with
Highly sensitive children
We specialize in supporting highly sensitive children. These kiddos experience the world intensely, often absorbing the moods and energy of the people around them without even realizing it. That depth of empathy is a real gift, but it can also tip into overwhelm and bring challenges of its own.
We help highly sensitive children flourish by encouraging them to welcome their emotions rather than fight them, while showing parents how to offer the particular kind of support these kids need. Wondering whether your child is highly sensitive? Take a look at our What is a Highly Sensitive Child? blog post or try our Highly Sensitive Child test.
Gifted children
It's common for highly sensitive children to also be gifted in some way. These kiddos carry unique strengths and abilities that set them apart. While that's something to celebrate, it can also leave them feeling isolated or wrestling with their self-worth (we dig into this more in this blog post).
We support gifted kiddos by helping them lean into the very things that make them different, even if that may seem counterintuitive at first. However, we’ve found that naming and validating them helps your child come to accept them and recognize what they actually need. We also guide parents of gifted children in how to hold space for their child's feelings, even in the moments when it's hard.
Big feelings like sadness or anger
Gifted and highly sensitive children feel everything deeply. It's one of your child's greatest strengths, and it can also be a lot to hold—for them and for you.
Our therapists help children (and parents!) make room for their big feelings. With tools like our butterfly body scan, kids learn to actually feel their emotions without getting swept away by dysregulation. And those same tools can help parents steady their own emotions, so you can model that calm for your child.
Mental health issues like anxiety or trauma
Children aren't immune to challenges with mental health. Because they're so attuned to everyone around them, highly sensitive children can be especially vulnerable to anxiety. The good news is that there's a great deal we can do to support them and help them grow more resilient in the face of that stress.
We also bring particular expertise to helping children process traumatic experiences. Whatever changes or hardships your family is navigating, we're here for you. By helping you turn toward your emotions instead of away from them, you can find a deeper, more connected relationship—even in difficult seasons.
Teens struggling with self-esteem, identity development, and relationships
Though we primarily specialize in supporting children ages 2–12, our therapists work with older kids as well. We draw on many of the same principles to help sensitive adolescents and teens work through questions of identity, self-esteem, and how they relate to themselves and the people around them.
The approach shifts a bit to fit this age group's developmental needs. Parents play a smaller role in teen therapy, and we ask for consent directly from our adolescent and teen clients before including parents more deeply. We warmly encourage parents to do their own reflective work through our TUNED IN parenting teens course, though, unlike with child therapy, it isn't required.
Understanding the Rooted Rhythm™️ process
Parent orientation. After our complimentary consultation call, our work together kicks off with a 50-minute parent orientation session. This is your chance to ask questions and start getting comfortable with your child's therapist, and it gives your therapist a chance to learn more about your child and what your family is hoping to gain from the process.
Child therapy sessions. Once orientation is complete, the heart of the work begins. Over a three-month period, your child comes in each week for a 50-minute play therapy session, with the last ten minutes set aside for parent coaching.
Parenting support: While your child is in therapy, there's also space for you to grow and heal as a caregiver. You’ll have access to our signature TUNED IN parenting course and optional weekly ROOTED RISING parent connection calls, led by our lead parent coach, Sophie Schauermann, LCSW. These calls are a chance to bring your questions, lean on some support, and feel a sense of community with other like-minded parents.
Need something more personalized? You can set up individual parent coaching sessions any time. On top of all that, families who work with us get lifetime access to the Tuned In Institute education portal—including our personal AI concierge, Remi.
Parent closing session. After the twelve child therapy sessions wrap up, your whole family comes together for a 50-minute closing session. We'll use this time to look back on and celebrate the progress you've made as a family, and to map out a plan for continued growth.
Ongoing support. Many families feel ready to carry the work forward on their own once our three months together are complete. However, once you work with us, you’re part of the Rooted Rhythm family forever. If you'd like continued support, our New Jersey child therapists are always here. You're welcome to keep joining our weekly calls or come back in for tune-up therapy or coaching sessions any time.
For parents of teenagers
The way we work with teens looks different, simply because they're in such a different developmental stage. A few of the key distinctions include:
Less parent involvement in therapy process
With teens, we meet once with parents at the very start of treatment, and from there, we trust our teens to take the lead in their own therapeutic process. There's real value in showing a teen that we trust them. In fact, giving them the room to take ownership of their process alongside their therapist is therapeutic in itself.
That said, we often nudge teens to share their emotional needs more openly with their parents, and we welcome parents into therapy when the moment is right—but we let our teens decide when they're ready to bring their parents in. Our goal is to connect with parents for a 10-minute check-in at least every other week, always with their teen's permission.
We recognize that it can feel unsettling to loosen our grip on our young teens, but creating some of these boundaries with parents is exactly what's developmentally appropriate at this age, and it's how teens begin to shape their own sense of identity and belonging. A strong bond with a therapist during this stretch helps ensure there's a safe adult on hand to support that process.
A consensual agreement
We specialize in supporting highly sensitive teens who often need support with self-esteem, identity development, sexuality, peer relationships, and staying connected to their families in a healthy way. We ask that the teens who work with us are choosing to be in therapy themselves.
Parenting support
Parents of teens often benefit from engaging in the TUNED IN course to support their own inner work while their pre-teen or teen is meeting with our therapists. We're also glad to offer one-on-one parent coaching or individual adult therapy to support you as you navigate the demanding—and deeply rewarding—work of raising a teenager.
Varying lengths of time in therapy
While our work with little ones is typically more structured, the length of time teens stay in therapy tends to vary. We suggest beginning with weekly sessions for at least 8 weeks, giving your teen time to build a genuine connection with their therapist. Many teens do well with longer-term care after that initial period, which might look like weekly, biweekly, or eventually monthly sessions.
Curious to learn more and see whether our programs are the right fit for your family? You can meet our therapists here, and reach out for a free consultation here.
Why work with our Dallas child therapists
We know that choosing a therapist for your child is a deeply personal—and often vulnerable—decision. Finding the right fit truly matters as it's one of the most essential ingredients in therapeutic growth and healing. Here are a few reasons we might be the right match for your family. And if you're still undecided, we'd love for you to schedule a free consultation call to get to know us a little better.
We specialize in supporting highly sensitive children.
Highly sensitive kiddos come with their own particular strengths and needs, and those call for a specialized kind of support. We also recognize that highly sensitive children very often have highly sensitive parents. We help both parents and children embrace their emotions and build coping skills that genuinely work so your family can find healing and harmony together.
We make sure the whole family is involved.
Although our play therapy services are centered on children, what we offer is really closer to family therapy. Parents stay closely involved from start to finish. This holistic approach keeps everyone in the family on the same page and connected as they grow emotionally. Time and again, we've watched how powerful it is for parents to do their own inner work right alongside their child's therapeutic journey.
We deeply believe in your child's innate ability to heal.
When you're feeling overwhelmed by your child's big emotions, it can be hard to fully see and celebrate their strengths. But we know that your child—and you too, parents!—holds remarkable resilience. When we turn toward big feelings instead of away from them and make room for honest expression, healing tends to unfold naturally.
Kind words from clients
While we're eager to show you how we can help your family, you don't have to take our word for it. We've helped hundreds of families find deeper connection and ease in their day-to-day life. Here are some kind words to help you understand how we can support you.
★★★★★ “Sara has a the unique ability to connect and empathize with both the parents and the children. Her warmth and good listening skills, combined with her deep understanding of child development and family dynamics, makes her a wise advisor and a trusted mentor.” - Parent of client
★★★★★ "Sophie was a gem for our family. The model of child counseling paired with parent coaching was excellent for us. Sophie is kind and approachable. She is an expert at what she does. We are in a happier, healthier, more regulated state of mind thanks to her. Equally important, Sophie helped teach us the tools to sustain it ourselves." -K.K.
★★★★★ "Thank you Rooted Rhythm for an unforgettable experience growing, learning, and finding our rhythm together. With such care, humanity, and kindness you guided us from 3rd grade storminess to a thriving 4th grade. The tools you taught our "sweet D" have become family treasures that we all keep in our daily routines. From this vantage point I can barely begin to understand the value of a 9 year old having such clarity on mental health and overcoming moments of overwhelm. Rooted Rhythm, you run such a professional operation that businesses of all kinds should take notice. It's so very special what you do for our COMMUNITY.." -D.K.
★★★★★ "Our 4-year-old was having trouble working through his really big feelings, and my husband and I felt confused about how to help him. Our therapist helped us identify his challenges and how we could support him. Our son has gained self-confidence and we have gained clarity and confidence as parents. So grateful!" -J.S.
★★★★★ “The Rooted Rhythm approach incorporates trust, acceptance, curiosity, and compassion. It is a safe space for you to explore, embrace and apply these to your own perspective on life and its challenges- all with their guidance and wisdom. Parenting is a vulnerable journey. Growing up can be hard. Without a doubt, I recommend using Rooted Rhythm therapists for support!” - J.C.
★★★★★ "Rooted Rhythm changed everything for our family. We went from daily meltdowns and power struggles to feeling connected and in sync. The tools were simple but so powerful—and the support was unwavering." - Parent of a 4 year old
★★★★★ “The therapeutic work this team does for sensitive children and their parents is rooted and true. I didn't know much about play therapy prior to learning about Rooted Rhythm, but I now I understand the incredible power of this modality for children to process their feelings. What sets this practice apart from others is their focus on supporting parents just as much as their kids on the learning and healing journey....which ensures a big step towards more wellness for the whole family. I absolutely trust and recommend this team to any family looking for emotional support.” - Mother of a 10 year old
FAQs about child therapy in NJ
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There's no single "right" age. Children can benefit from therapy at almost any stage, and what matters far more than a specific number is whether your child is struggling in a way that's affecting their daily life, their relationships, or their sense of themselves.
We specialize in working with children ages 2 through 12, and yes, that includes the little ones. Play therapy is especially well-suited to young children precisely because it doesn't depend on them having the words to explain what they're feeling—it meets them in the language they already speak.
Some signs it might be worth reaching out:
Big emotions that feel hard to move through,
Frequent meltdowns or anxiety,
Trouble with transitions or sleep,
Struggles connecting with peers, or
A sense that something has shifted and you're not quite sure how to help.
You don't need to wait for things to reach a crisis point. In fact, early support often works as a kind of preventative care, helping your child build regulation and resilience before challenges have a chance to take deeper root.
And if your child is older, we've got you, too. Our therapists work with teens through a developmentally tailored approach.
Not sure whether now is the right time for your family? That's exactly what a free consultation is for. We're happy to talk it through and help you figure out what kind of support, if any, makes the most sense.
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Yes! We've seen the results firsthand with the hundreds of families we've worked with. Traditional talk therapy often isn't the best match for young children—and sometimes not for older ones either. Play comes far more naturally to little ones, and leaning on it as a tool helps them express themselves in the clearest, most authentic way.
When we ask children to put their feelings into words, it can actually leave them feeling pressured or overwhelmed. Even though that ask comes from a genuine wish to understand them, play therapy opens up more creative paths to tune into a child's emotions—ones that simply feel more accessible to them.
You can read more about play therapy over at the Association for Play Therapy website, or schedule a free consultation with our therapists to see how we draw on a wide range of play therapy techniques to support your child.
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Both child psychologists and child therapists can offer meaningful, valuable support to children and families, but there are a few distinctions worth understanding as you decide who to work with.
A child therapist holds a master's degree, often in social work, marriage and family therapy, or a related field, along with thousands of hours of supervised practice before becoming licensed. A child psychologist has comparable training, with the key difference being a doctoral degree in psychology.
In some cases, child psychologists lean more toward research or psychological testing. So if what you're after is testing for something like autism, ADHD, or a developmental difference, a child psychologist may be the right place to start. Outside of that, the most important thing is making sure your provider's approach and areas of specialty are a good match for what your child actually needs—whichever title they carry.
Working with a child therapist can bring your family the support you've been searching for.
Our private practice specializes in caring for highly sensitive and gifted children. We help kiddos get in touch with their feelings and build real skills to regulate themselves. At the same time, we walk alongside parents through their own emotional challenges, helping them feel empowered to show up in new ways. With our holistic approach, the whole family gets to feel supported, connected, and a little more at ease.