Watching your child pull away, melt down, or carry something they can’t put into words is one of the hardest things. At Sentier Psychotherapy, our dedicated child therapy team uses play therapy to help kids ages 0–11 process what words can’t reach.
We are currently accepting new clients at our St. Paul, MN office, serving families across St. Paul, Roseville, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Little Canada, Arden Hills, and throughout the Twin Cities metro.
Play therapy is a structured, evidence-based form of counseling designed specifically for children. Rather than asking a child to sit and talk about their feelings, play therapy uses toys, art materials, sand, puppets, and creative play as the primary tools of the session. The child expresses through doing. The therapist listens through watching.
“Children communicate through play the way adults communicate through words.” -Adapted from principles outlined by the Association for Play Therapy
A trained play therapist understands the symbolic language behind what a child creates — what they reach for, avoid, or return to — and uses those observations to guide the therapeutic work at the child’s own pace. The Association for Play Therapy supports play therapy with multiple meta-analyses and controlled trials showing effectiveness for anxiety, trauma, grief, and social-emotional development in children ages 2 to 12.
Our therapists specialize in seeing kids for counseling/play therapy ages birth to 11+ in St. Paul, MN
Most children haven’t yet developed the emotional vocabulary or abstract thinking skills needed for traditional talk therapy. Asking a five-year-old to explain why they feel anxious puts an adult cognitive expectation on a brain that’s still forming. Play removes that barrier. It meets children in the language they already speak naturally — and because it feels like play rather than therapy, children engage more freely, which is when the real work happens.
Our play therapy room at Sentier is stocked with sand tray materials, art supplies, puppets, building toys, books, building toys and more. Every material is chosen intentionally.
Not sure if your child’s concern is a fit? Reach out — we’ll talk through it.
Play therapy sessions are 50 minutes, generally scheduled once per week. Here is what the process looks like from first contact through to completion:
Your child enters the play therapy room — stocked with sand tray materials, art supplies, puppets, building toys, games, books and much more — and is given space to explore at their own pace. No expectations. No agenda. No pressure to talk.
You are never left in the dark. Regular check-ins (we call them Parent Consultations) are built into the process — you’ll know how your child is responding and receive practical strategies to use at home between sessions, if needed. Your child’s trust is protected; updates are shared thoughtfully.
When goals are met, we don’t abruptly stop. Your therapist prepares a gradual, intentional close — giving your child time to transition out of therapy with the tools they’ve built, ready to use at home, school and in the world. Often our therapists will schedule with kids at this point once per month in order to see how the child maintains after therapy is not consistent. We often allow children to ease their way out of Child Therapy.
One of the most common questions before a first call: “Will I know what’s going on? Will I be involved?” The short answer is always yes.
The process begins with a private parent intake/consultation before your child’s first session — your space to share, ask questions, and set goals. No child present.
You leave with practical strategies if this is something you need — not just progress updates. The work your child does in session extends into everyday life through what you bring home.
Dedicated child therapists — not a side specialty in a general adult practice. Our playrooms are thoughtfully curated for children to thrive.
All four therapists are RPTS or are pursuing the Registered Play Therapist credential — the highest in the children’s mental health field.
There are many therapists in the Twin Cities who work with children as part of a general practice. Our child therapy team is different.
Under RPT Supervision
Former toddler and preschool teacher with a deep background in early childhood development. Bria brings a teacher’s understanding of how young children learn and process the world into her clinical work. She sees children ages 0–11 and holds specialized DC 0-5 training — the diagnostic framework for early childhood mental health — making her a particularly strong fit for infants, toddlers, and families navigating early developmental concerns.
See Bria's bio
Under RPT Supervision
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist whose clinical specialties include ADHD, executive functioning, neurodiversity and LGBTQIA+ — making them a strong fit for children whose challenges show up as attention difficulties, emotional dysregulation, or learning differences. MJ also conducts Autism Assessments (ages 16+, self-diagnosed affirming) and is DC 0-5 trained. They bring a warm, collaborative approach to building therapeutic goals with children and families, and are actively working toward their RPT credential through the Association for Play Therapy.
See Mary's bio
Under RPT Supervision
Licensed Professional Counselor with specialized training in child therapy, play-based interventions, step-families, and educator concerns, Barb brings warmth and clinical depth to her work with teachers, children and families. Barb creates a space where kids feel safe to be themselves. She is actively working toward her RPT credential through the Association for Play Therapy and is DC 0-5 trained.
See Barbara's bio
RPT Candidate
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a strong foundation in trauma-informed, child-centered care. Bridgett draws on social work’s family systems perspective to support both the child and the broader family context. She has actively worked toward her RPT credential through the Association for Play Therapy and has completed her RPT hours and training at this time.
See Bridgett's bio
Progress takes time and is often subtle before it’s obvious. Watch for small shifts at home:
Some children see meaningful progress in 10 to 14 sessions. Others benefit from longer support. Your therapist will set goals with you at the start of therapy and will check in regularly — you will never be left guessing about where things stand.
Sentier Psychotherapy only accepts insurance on an out-of-network basis. We are able to electronically submit out-of-network claims for clients who use their out-of-network benefits on the date of service. For people who do not want to use OON insurance benefits, we are a self-pay practice and can provide receipts for HSA and flex saving accounts. Contact us at (763) 913-8261 or admin1@sentiertherapy.com to discuss current session rates.
Children who are experiencing sadness, depression, grief, anxiety, anger and other issues can often benefit from counseling. The most natural way for therapists to engage with these kids is through play, because play is the language of the child. Play is how kids best relate with others, communicate, and integrate their experiences.
Play therapy is generally scheduled one time per week, with each weekly session lasting 50 minutes in length. Parent sessions with and without the child are often an integral part of a children’s therapy journey.
Play therapy is a structured (or sometimes unstructured) theoretically-based approach to counseling that creates a space in which children utilize toys and other materials to process their feelings and experiences and resolve internal conflicts. Through play kids can learn emotional regulation, adaptive behaviors, as well as emotional and social skills. At Sentier, all Child Therapists are highly trained and have completed or are in-process of completing their Registered Play Therapist (RPT) credential, which is the highest level of training in the Child Therapy field.
Our therapists specialize in seeing kids for counseling/play therapy ages birth to 11+ in St. Paul, MN.
Meet our Child Therapists:
Bria Hubinger, MA, MEd, LPC
Barb Wormington, MEd, LPCC
Mary Devorak, MS, LMFT and
Bridgett Brye, MSW, LICSW
We are currently accepting new clients at our St. Paul, MN office. The first step is a brief conversation — no commitment required. Send us an email, fill out the “Get More Information” form or give us a call today!
