5 Highly Recommended Chicago Play Therapists
Weโre Tovah Means and Dr. Jennifer Rolnick, and together we are the co-owners of Watch Hill Therapy: a trauma specialty group practice in downtown Chicago. We created this to be a resource for parents and caregivers who need to find a skilled play therapist for their child but don't know where to begin or who to trust with such an important decision.
Choosing the right therapist for your child can feel overwhelming, especially when they're struggling with trauma, anxiety, behavioral challenges, or the aftermath of difficult life experiences. Play therapy offers children a developmentally appropriate way to process emotions, work through trauma, and build coping skillsโbut finding a therapist who truly understands the complexity of childhood trauma and can create genuine healing is crucial.
Most people would agree that the best way to find a therapist is through a personal referral from someone they know and trust, ideally someone with first-hand knowledge of the therapist's work. But in reality, not every parent or caregiver knows someone who can make that kind of referral.
Our hope is that this list can serve as a personal recommendation from us, two experienced therapists serving the Chicago area. The play therapists below are clinicians we've worked alongside, supervised, consulted with, and watched grow into exceptional practitioners, along with other local specialists who bring unique expertise to play therapy. If your child needs support, they will be in exceptionally capable hands with any of the specialists listed here.
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Rachel Lara, MA, ATR-P: Best for art therapy integrated with play therapy
Kaitlyn Rippel, MA, LCSW: Best for Autism Spectrum Disorder, trauma, and understanding of school settings
Jasmin Searcy-Pate, Ph.D.: Best for assessments (psychological, psychoeducational, accommodations, giftedness, and pre-adoption)
Dr. Sarah Pekoc: Best for EMDR with play therapy, trauma, adoption, and grief/loss
Aarti S. Felder: Best for chronic illness and medical trauma
Meet the Chicago play therapy specialists we recommend
We recommend Rachel because she is dually trained in counseling and art therapyโa combination that opens doors for children who cannot, or will not, put their pain into words. Most play therapists in Chicago are trained in one modality; Rachel brings a full expressive arts toolkit alongside clinical training in PTSD, C-PTSD, and dissociative identity disorder, which means she can work with the children whose trauma has fragmented their sense of self and safety.
What further sets her apart is her decade of experience as a teacher of children and adolescents before she became a therapist. She knows how kids actually behave, learn, resist, and connectโnot just how textbooks say they doโand she lets her young clients lead the session rather than imposing an agenda.
Rachel also brings a rare understanding of how media, social pressure, and cultural messaging shape a child's inner world, drawn from her doctoral work in media psychophysiology. If your child is creative, guarded, verbally shut down, or navigating identity questions in a world that hasn't made space for them, Rachel offers a genuinely different way in.
Credentials: Registered Art Therapist (Provisional)
Focus areas: PTSD, C-PTSD, dissociation and DID, stage-based trauma treatment, art and expressive therapies, multicultural and LGBTQ+ affirming care
Rachel Lara, MA, ATR-P
Kaitlyn Rippel, MA, LCSW
We recommend Kaitlyn because she offers something most play therapists in Chicago don't: genuine expertise in the intersection of trauma and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Too many neurodivergent children are either excluded from trauma therapy because therapists don't understand how to adapt their approach, or they're misdiagnosed and treated for behavioral problems when the real issue is unprocessed trauma.
Before working at our practice, Kaitlyn spent years as a school social worker, witnessing firsthand how trauma derails children's ability to learn, focus, and connect. She developed clinical skills that allow her to reach kids who shut down, act out, or struggle to engage in traditional talk therapy.
If your child has been told they're "too difficult," if other therapists haven't understood their sensory needs or communication style, or if you've been searching for someone who can hold both the neurodevelopmental and trauma pieces together, Kaitlyn is the therapist who can finally meet your child where they are.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Social Worker #149.026332
Focus areas: Play therapy, children, teens, trauma, Autism Spectrum Disorder, grief and loss, anxiety, depression
Jasmin Searcy-Pate, Ph.D.
While your child doesnโt need a formal diagnosis to benefit from play therapy, there may be some instances where we recommend getting a full psychological evaluation to assess for ADHD, learning differences, speech and language disorders, or other conditions that may impact treatment.
Thatโs where Dr. Searcy-Pateโs practice comes in. She stands out amongst local play therapists because she is also a licensed psychologist who, unlike other psychologists, has completed specialized training in pediatrics. As a psychologist, sheโs able to provide comprehensive evaluations that most play therapists canโt.
If your child needs an assessment for school accommodations (such as for an IEP or 504 plan), a pre-adoption evaluation, or another kind of test in addition to play therapy services, Dr. Searcy-Pate could be an excellent choice.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Psychologist #071009593
Focus areas: Play therapy, assessments, behavioral issues, trauma, bullying, school attendance, life transitions
Dr. Sarah Pekoc
Play therapy is a good fit for most children, including those who have experienced trauma. However, there may be some cases in which additional trauma treatment modalities are needed.
EMDR is a specialized therapy method that works by helping people reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer produce an intense emotional reaction. Research suggests it can be effective in children as young as four years old.
If youโre looking for play therapy integrated with EMDR for your child, Dr. Pekocโs practice could be a great fit. She provides both play therapy and EMDR, a rare combination in the child therapy field. She also works with early childhood populations, including toddlers, which is a developmental age thatโs often overlooked in the therapy space.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Psychologist #071010719
Focus areas: Play therapy, EMDR, trauma, adoption, divorce, grief/loss
Aarti S. Felder
If your little oneโor another member of your familyโis dealing with the challenges of chronic illness or medical trauma, Aartiโs practice is for you. She specializes in supporting peopleโs mental health within the context of chronic illness, a unique specialty that makes her stand out among local therapistsโespecially amongst those who work with children.
Aarti uses play therapy and trauma-focused modalities to help people of all ages, including children ages six and older, navigate the challenges of constant doctorโs appointments, confusing and overwhelming symptoms, and the uncertainty of being unwell.
Beyond having clinical expertise in this area, Aarti also has lived experience navigating a chronic illness. This brings an additional layer of understanding and empathy to families going through this.
Credentials: Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor #180011872
Focus areas: Play therapy, chronic illness, medical trauma, neurofeedback, animal-assisted therapy
FAQs about play therapy
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According to the Association for Play Therapy, play therapy is most effective for children ages 3-12. In our experience, it can also benefit younger teens who respond well to creative, non-verbal processing. Children in this developmental stage tend to respond well to play therapy since it speaks their language; theyโre already used to naturally using play to make sense of their experiences and express emotions they donโt yet have words for.
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During a play therapy session, your child engages with toys, art materials, sand trays, and other creative tools while the therapist observes, reflects, and gently guides the process. Through play, children express emotions, re-enact experiences, and explore solutions to problems in ways that feel natural and non-threatening. The therapist helps translate these play experiences into emotional understanding and healing.
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Play therapy can help children process trauma, manage anxiety and depression, improve emotion regulation, heal from grief and loss, navigate family transitions like divorce, address behavioral challenges, build social skills, and work through attachment wounds. If youโre not sure whether play therapy is the right fit for your child, contact us for a free consultation.
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Your child may benefit from play therapy if theyโre experiencing:
A change in the home or family, such as a new sibling, divorce, or death in the family,
Behavioral outbursts,
Withdrawal,
Nightmares,
Regression in development,
Difficulty at school,
Intense fears or worries,
Trouble with peer relationships, or
Struggles following a traumatic event, loss, or major life change.
This isnโt an exhaustive list. If your child is struggling with something else and you have an inkling that therapy could help, itโs worth reaching out.
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Parent involvement is essential to helping your child get the most out of play therapy. While sessions with your child are typically private to create safety and trust, the therapist will regularly meet with you to share insights, offer parenting strategies, and help you understand what's emerging in your child's therapy. Some sessions may include parent-child work to strengthen your relationship and practice new patterns together. In certain cases, we may recommend parenting sessions with an outside therapist. Weโll work closely with you to determine the path forward thatโs right for you and your family.
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Yes, play therapy is typically covered by insurance. At Watch Hill Therapy, we accept BCBS PPO. Coverage varies widely, so we recommend checking with your insurance provider about mental health benefits, session limits, and whether your child's diagnosis qualifies for coverage. Many families also use FSA or HSA accounts to cover therapy costs.