[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":393},["ShallowReactive",2],{"site-config":3,"service-\u002Fservices\u002Fplay-therapy":159},{"id":4,"extension":5,"footer":6,"insurance":23,"meta":40,"navigation":41,"practice":128,"serviceAreas":146,"social":156,"stem":157,"__hash__":158},"site\u002Fsite.yml","yml",{"description":7,"copyright":8,"legalLinks":9,"trustBadges":16},"A nonprofit, faith-based counseling center in Santa Ana providing affordable, high-quality care for individuals, children, families, and couples — in person and virtually throughout California.","{name}. All rights reserved.",[10,13],{"label":11,"to":12},"Privacy Policy","\u002Fprivacy",{"label":14,"to":15},"Terms of Service","\u002Fterms",[17,20],{"label":18,"icon":19},"501(c)(3) Nonprofit","i-lucide-heart-handshake",{"label":21,"icon":22},"CAMFT Supervised Care","i-lucide-shield-check",{"sessionFee":24,"outOfNetwork":25,"fees":26,"accepting":33,"comingSoon":36,"reducedFee":39},"Starting at $80 per session",true,[27,30],{"label":28,"value":29},"MFT Trainee","$80 \u002F 50 min",{"label":31,"value":32},"Registered Associate","$150 \u002F 50 min",[34,35],"Aetna","Blue Shield of California",[37,38],"Medi-Cal","Kaiser","Reduced-fee applications available upon request and for those who qualify.",{},{"header":42,"headerButton":94,"footer":98},[43,46,49,82,85,88,91],{"label":44,"to":45},"About","\u002Fabout",{"label":47,"to":48},"Team","\u002Fabout#team",{"label":50,"to":51,"children":52},"Services","\u002Fservices",[53,58,63,68,73,77],{"label":54,"description":55,"icon":56,"to":57},"EMDR Therapy","Trauma-focused treatment for trauma, anxiety, and depression.","i-lucide-brain","\u002Fservices\u002Femdr",{"label":59,"description":60,"icon":61,"to":62},"Play Therapy (Theraplay®)","Attachment-based play therapy for children and families.","i-lucide-blocks","\u002Fservices\u002Fplay-therapy",{"label":64,"description":65,"icon":66,"to":67},"Family Systems Trauma","A structured, whole-family approach to healing.","i-lucide-users","\u002Fservices\u002Ffamily-systems-trauma",{"label":69,"description":70,"icon":71,"to":72},"Grief Recovery","A structured program for processing all forms of loss.","i-lucide-heart-crack","\u002Fservices\u002Fgrief-recovery",{"label":74,"description":75,"icon":19,"to":76},"Married & Premarital Counseling","Biblically grounded counseling for couples.","\u002Fservices\u002Fcouples-counseling",{"label":78,"description":79,"icon":80,"to":81},"Biblical Integration Counseling","Care for faith struggles, identity in Christ, and church hurt.","i-lucide-book-open","\u002Fservices\u002Fbiblical-integration",{"label":83,"to":84},"Fees & Insurance","\u002Ffees",{"label":86,"to":87},"FAQ","\u002Ffaq",{"label":89,"to":90},"Blog","\u002Fblog",{"label":92,"to":93},"Contact","\u002Fcontact",{"label":95,"to":96,"color":97},"Schedule an Appointment","booking","primary",[99,112,117],{"label":100,"children":101},"Navigation",[102,105,106,107,108,111],{"label":103,"to":104},"Home","\u002F",{"label":44,"to":45},{"label":50,"to":51},{"label":89,"to":90},{"label":109,"to":110},"Donate","\u002Fdonations",{"label":92,"to":93},{"label":113,"children":114},"Resources",[115,116],{"label":86,"to":87},{"label":83,"to":84},{"label":118,"children":119},"Specialties",[120,121,122,123,124,126],{"label":54,"to":57},{"label":59,"to":62},{"label":64,"to":67},{"label":69,"to":72},{"label":125,"to":76},"Married & Premarital",{"label":127,"to":81},"Biblical Integration",{"name":129,"tagline":130,"phone":131,"email":132,"address":133,"hours":138,"bookingUrl":145,"telehealth":25},"Abundant Life Affordable Counseling","Compassion Leads the Way to Healing","(714) 699-3367","abundantlifeaffordablecounseling@hushmail.com",{"street":134,"city":135,"state":136,"zip":137},"1633 E 4th Street, Suite 184","Santa Ana","CA","92701",[139,142],{"days":140,"hours":141},"Monday - Friday","By appointment",{"days":143,"hours":144},"Weekends","Limited availability","https:\u002F\u002Fkathleen-shanahan.clientsecure.me\u002Fcontact-widget",{"cities":147,"telehealth":155},[135,148,149,150,151,152,153,154],"Orange","Anaheim","Cypress","Los Alamitos","Garden Grove","Costa Mesa","Fountain Valley","Telehealth available throughout California",null,"site","mjdJMAq29V3Op1UfxkxSvs9DT6-5NkrhRQde_3RNwGI",{"id":160,"title":161,"body":162,"callouts":331,"description":335,"extension":336,"eyebrow":337,"faq":338,"faqEyebrow":156,"faqHeading":357,"featured":25,"finalCta":358,"footnote":366,"heroCta":156,"icon":61,"image":156,"meta":367,"modalities":156,"navigation":25,"overview":368,"path":62,"seo":378,"serviceArea":381,"specialties":386,"stem":391,"__hash__":392},"services\u002Fservices\u002Fplay-therapy.md","Helping Children and the People Who Love Them Grow Closer",{"type":163,"value":164,"toc":323},"minimark",[165,172,177,180,183,186,189,194,198,201,233,236,239,242,245,257,259,264,268,271,274,277,280,282,306,308,313,317,320],[166,167,168],"p",{},[169,170,171],"strong",{},"Who Benefits From Theraplay",[173,174,176],"h2",{"id":175},"when-a-child-needs-more-than-words","When a Child Needs More Than Words",[166,178,179],{},"Many of the families who come to us are walking through something that has shaken a child's sense of safety. That includes children who have experienced developmental trauma, children in foster care, children whose family is going through a divorce, and children who have struggled to form a secure attachment with the people closest to them.",[166,181,182],{},"It can also help children on the autism spectrum, where building that close connection can feel especially hard for a parent and child to reach on their own. If your child is carrying more than they have words for, this kind of care can reach them where words cannot.",[166,184,185],{},"There is one thing that matters most for this work. Theraplay is for parents and caregivers who want to be part of the healing, not apart from it. The connection between you and your child is the heart of the process, so your presence and participation are what make it work.",[187,188],"hr",{},[166,190,191],{},[169,192,193],{},"What to Expect",[173,195,197],{"id":196},"a-process-built-around-your-family","A Process Built Around Your Family",[166,199,200],{},"Every family begins with an assessment, so the plan is built around your child as they are, their strengths, their struggles, and their pace, rather than a fixed routine. Together we look at four areas that build a secure relationship:",[202,203,204,212,219,226],"card-group",{},[205,206,209],"card",{"icon":207,"title":208},"i-lucide-heart","Nurture",[166,210,211],{},"Warm, caring moments that help your child feel soothed, safe, and cared for.",[205,213,216],{"icon":214,"title":215},"i-lucide-layout-grid","Structure",[166,217,218],{},"Gentle, predictable guidance that helps your child feel secure and know what to expect.",[205,220,223],{"icon":221,"title":222},"i-lucide-sparkles","Challenge",[166,224,225],{},"Playful activities that build confidence and a real sense of what your child can do.",[205,227,230],{"icon":228,"title":229},"i-lucide-smile","Engagement",[166,231,232],{},"Shared, joyful interaction that deepens the bond between you and your child.",[166,234,235],{},"From there, we identify where your child is already strong and where there is room to grow, and we build the plan from what we find.",[166,237,238],{},"In adult-led play therapy, your clinician guides the activities at first, then gradually hands that role to you, so the warmth and structure built in session become something you carry home. A parent or caregiver takes part throughout the healing journey. For families who prefer it, child-led play therapy is also available, where your child leads the play and the focus stays on them.",[166,240,241],{},"This kind of care reaches children from roughly age two through twelve, and it can extend to teens as old as fifteen by gently revisiting the early experiences of comfort and security a child may have missed.",[166,243,244],{},"Wondering whether play therapy through Theraplay is the right fit for your child? We would be happy to talk it through with you.",[246,247,251],"div",{"className":248},[249,250],"not-prose","mt-8",[252,253],"u-button",{"label":95,"size":254,"to":145,"trailing-icon":255,"target":256},"lg","i-lucide-arrow-right","_blank",[187,258],{},[166,260,261],{},[169,262,263],{},"Faith-Based Play Therapy in Santa Ana, CA",[173,265,267],{"id":266},"faith-has-a-place-here","Faith Has a Place Here",[166,269,270],{},"Abundant Life Affordable Counseling is rooted in Christian values, and faith-based care is at the heart of this practice.",[166,272,273],{},"For families who welcome it, faith can become part of the play itself. Something as simple as turning on a light to begin a session can mark an invitation for the light of Jesus to be present while a child heals.",[166,275,276],{},"How much faith enters your child's care is always your decision. Before treatment begins, your clinician will ask whether you would like prayer, scripture, and spiritual reflection to be part of your child's sessions, or whether you would rather keep faith out of the room. Either choice is met with the same respect.",[166,278,279],{},"Families of every faith, background, and walk of life are welcome here.",[187,281],{},[283,284,290,293,296,299],"split-media",{"eyebrow":285,"image":286,"image-alt":287,"image-position":288,"title":289},"Our Care Model","\u002Falac-theraplay-female-child.jpg","A young girl smiling during a play therapy session","left","Specialized Care, Personally Supervised",[166,291,292],{},"Theraplay is provided by clinicians working under the direct, individualized supervision of Kathleen Shanahan, an Intermediate Level Theraplay® Practitioner and CAMFT Certified Clinical Supervisor. Because she oversees each clinician personally, the same care and approach she was trained in carry through to your child's play therapy sessions.",[166,294,295],{},"This is also what keeps specialized care like this within reach. As clinicians build their hours toward full licensure under her guidance, families gain access to skilled, attentive support at a fraction of what it would typically cost.",[166,297,298],{},"Families can see us at our Santa Ana office or from home anywhere in California. Virtual care begins with a short telehealth assessment to make sure online sessions are the right and safest choice for your child, since this work needs a calm, private setting. If virtual is not the best fit, we will talk through meeting in person, and if virtual therapy is what your family truly needs, we will do what we can to put the right pieces in place to make it work.",[246,300,302],{"className":301},[250],[252,303],{"label":304,"size":254,"to":45,"trailing-icon":255,"variant":305},"Learn About Our Mission","soft",[187,307],{},[166,309,310],{},[169,311,312],{},"Why Choose Abundant Life",[173,314,316],{"id":315},"a-rare-kind-of-care-close-to-home","A Rare Kind of Care, Close to Home",[166,318,319],{},"Kathleen is one of only three Theraplay practitioners in California, and she brings that rare, attachment-based training to the families she supervises. Many therapists can do play activities with a child, but far fewer are trained in this specific, structured model.",[166,321,322],{},"What sets this work apart is the same thing you will feel everywhere in this practice. Your child is never just another appointment, and your family is never just another fee walking in the door. From the snacks we keep on hand to the thought behind every session, the whole practice was built to help your family feel comfortable, seen, and cared for from the moment you arrive.",{"title":324,"searchDepth":325,"depth":325,"links":326},"",2,[327,328,329,330],{"id":175,"depth":325,"text":176},{"id":196,"depth":325,"text":197},{"id":266,"depth":325,"text":267},{"id":315,"depth":325,"text":316},[332,333,334],"Attachment-Based Care","Faith Integration","In Person and Online","Adult-led play therapy for children and families, offered in person in Santa Ana and virtually throughout California.","md","Theraplay® in Santa Ana, CA",[339,342,345,348,351,354],{"label":340,"content":341},"What happens in a Theraplay session?","Sessions are built around closeness rather than talking. Through adult-led guided play, your child experiences moments of nurture, structure, challenge, and engagement that help them feel safe and build a stronger bond with you. At Abundant Life Affordable Counseling in Santa Ana, we begin with an assessment so the work is shaped around your child, and the parent or caregiver takes part throughout.",{"label":343,"content":344},"Do I need to be in the room with my child?","For Theraplay, yes, and that is by design. As an adult-led approach grounded in attachment theory, it works by strengthening the very bond between you and your child, so your presence and participation matter. For families who prefer it, child-led play therapy is also available, where the focus stays on your child. Your clinician will help you find the approach that suits your family.",{"label":346,"content":347},"What kinds of struggles is this meant for?","This form of play therapy often helps children working through developmental trauma, children in foster care, children navigating a divorce, and children who have had a hard time forming a secure attachment. It can also support children on the autism spectrum. If your child is carrying more than they can express in words, this kind of care is designed to help.",{"label":349,"content":350},"Do I have to incorporate faith into my sessions?","At Abundant Life Affordable Counseling, faith integration is always your choice. Some clients want scripture, prayer, and spiritual reflection woven into their care. Others prefer a lighter touch, or to keep faith out of the room entirely. Your clinician will talk with you about your preference at the very start, and it is respected from the first conversation. People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome here.",{"label":352,"content":353},"Can play therapy be done online?","For many families, yes. We offer play therapy in person in Santa Ana and virtually across California. Families in Anaheim, Cypress, Garden Grove, Costa Mesa, and surrounding Orange County cities are welcome to visit us in person or connect from home. Since this work needs a calm, private setting, virtual care begins with a short telehealth assessment to make sure online sessions are the right and safest choice for your child. If they are not, we will talk through in-person care, and where we can, we will do what it takes to help your family find a way forward.",{"label":355,"content":356},"How much does Theraplay sessions cost?","As a nonprofit, we set our fees below the standard market rate so quality care stays reachable. Sessions are $80 with a Marriage and Family Therapist Trainee and $150 with a Registered Associate, each lasting 50 minutes. We are in network with Aetna and Blue Shield of California, with Medi-Cal and Kaiser coming soon. Reduced-fee applications are available for families who qualify.","What Parents Often Ask",{"eyebrow":359,"heading":360,"body":361,"primary":362,"secondary":364},"Get Started","We'd Love to Meet Your Family","Reaching out for your child can feel like a big step. Send us a message or give us a call, and we will walk you through what coming in looks like and help your family feel at ease from the very first conversation.",{"label":363,"to":96},"Request a Session",{"label":365,"to":93},"Contact Us","Theraplay® is a registered service mark of The Theraplay® Institute, Chicago, IL, USA.",{},{"eyebrow":369,"title":370,"imagePosition":288,"imageAspect":371,"image":372,"body":375},"The Theraplay Approach","Healing That Happens Through Connection","square",{"src":373,"alt":374},"\u002Falac-theraplay.jpg","A caregiver and toddler sitting on the floor together, hands touching as they play with wooden blocks",[376,377],"Theraplay® is a nurturing, adult-led form of play therapy grounded in attachment theory. It helps children and their parents build the kind of secure, trusting bond that healing grows from. Instead of asking a child to talk through what hurts, it works the way children naturally do, through play, eye contact, and shared moments that help a child feel safe, seen, and connected.","That bond between a child and the caregiver in their life is not a small thing. It shapes how safe the world feels to them and how they learn to trust, love, and grow. When that connection has been strained or never fully formed, Theraplay helps rebuild it, gently and at the child's pace, with the parent close by as part of the healing, not on the sidelines.",{"title":379,"description":380},"Play Therapy in Santa Ana, CA | Theraplay® | Abundant Life","Gentle, faith-based adult-led play therapy to help your child heal and reconnect. Affordable care in Santa Ana, CA and online across California. Reach out today.",{"heading":382,"tags":383},"Close to Home. Or From Home.",[384,148,149,150,151,152,153,154,385],"Orange County","Telehealth across California",[387,388,389,390],"Developmental Trauma","Attachment and Bonding","Foster Care","Autism Spectrum","services\u002Fplay-therapy","1VslHEIu1b7DmDF6SG94BlmhhL31ttRmxWOqrZT5PoA",1786696099771]