Play therapy for infants and toddlers

Online In Montana & In-person in missoula

You are not alone.

The early years can feel overwhelming. The crying that doesn’t stop. The sleepless nights. The constant worry about whether your baby is okay. The exhaustion that leaves you second-guessing every choice.

Maybe you’ve tried everything you know—feeding, rocking, white noise, new routines, advice from friends or the internet—yet your child still seems distressed, and you feel stuck.

A young boy crying and hugging an adult person, possibly his mother, who has short blonde hair, in an indoor setting.
A young child wearing a green knit hoodie and matching sweater, sitting on the ground surrounded by dry autumn grass, looking down at something in their hands.

Why Babies and Toddlers Struggle

Sometimes, dysregulation isn’t just about being “fussy” or “strong-willed.” Even the very youngest children can carry imprints from experiences we don’t always recognize as trauma:

  • Complicated or frightening birth experiences

  • Medical procedures or hospital stays

  • Stress during pregnancy, or being conceived in times of conflict or worry

  • Adoption or separation from a primary caregiver

And while we want so much to show up calmly for our children, our own nervous systems matter, too. Your overwhelm, exhaustion, or even unhealed experiences from your own childhood can surface in these moments—making it harder to soothe your baby or toddler when they need you most.

Why it matters to reach out now.

In my work with infants, toddlers, and their parents, I blend:

  • Synergetic Play Therapy®

  • Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology

  • Relational Neuroscience

  • Attachment-focused approaches

Together, we can:

  • Help your child integrate overwhelming experiences (even preverbal ones)

  • Support you in finding steadiness in the face of big emotions

  • Build co-regulation strategies that make daily life feel more manageable

  • Create space for healing—both for your child, and for you as a parent

Therapy at this age isn’t about “fixing” your child. It’s about giving both of you a safe, supportive space to connect, repair, and grow together.

These early experiences shape a child’s sense of safety and connection. When we meet them with attunement and support, we’re not only soothing the present moment—we’re setting a foundation for lifelong regulation, resilience, and trust.

A woman sitting on the grass and leaning against a tree, smiling while blowing bubbles with a young girl who is standing in front of her.

Your infant or toddler might benefit from therapy if:

  • Cries more than 30 minutes a day

  • Struggles to fall asleep or stay asleep

  • Arches away from your body instead of melting into your arms

  • Has difficulty accepting a nipple (breast or bottle)

  • Seems withdrawn or disengaged much of the day

  • Avoids or struggles to maintain eye contact

  • Shows stiff, jerky movements

  • Collapses into bed exhausted after struggling to maintain focus all day

A GENTLE REMINDER FOR PARENTS

You don’t have to do this alone. Parenting a baby or toddler can be one of the most rewarding—and one of the most overwhelming—seasons of life. With the right support, your child can build new patterns of safety and connection, and you can find your footing as a parent.

This work is about strengthening your bond, restoring balance, and giving both you and your child the foundation to thrive.

FAQs

  • Yes, always. At this age, infants and toddlers aren’t yet fully separate from their parents or primary caregivers—their nervous systems are still developing in connection with yours. That means the challenges and stressors they’re experiencing involve the whole family, and the healing work needs to include everyone.

    The only rare exception might be with an older toddler (around age two) who has experienced a specific traumatic event and feels comfortable being in the playroom without a parent present. Even then, parents remain an essential part of the overall process.

  • Therapy for very young children looks different than it does for older kids or adults.

    Babies and toddlers don’t talk about what’s happening for them, they show it—through movement patterns, play, body language, emotions, and their interactions with you.

    In sessions, we slow things way down, and I attune closely to your child’s cues, while also working with you to notice patterns and build tools for co-regulation.

    Sometimes sessions are playful and light; sometimes they involve holding space for big emotions together.

  • Because infants and toddlers haven’t yet built years of ingrained patterns, therapy at this age can move more quickly than it does with older children or adults. Sometimes we see shifts in just a few sessions. Other times, especially if parents’ own histories or stress are part of the picture, it may take longer. Either way, the goal is to create lasting changes that support both your child and your whole family system.

  • Both. Your child’s healing is deeply connected to your nervous system and your relationship together. That means my work often involves supporting you as much as supporting your child—whether that’s helping you regulate when your child is melting down, building new rhythms at home, or exploring how your own early experiences may be activated in parenting.

  • Therapy for infants and toddlers can help with:

    • Persistent crying or difficulty soothing

    • Feeding challenges (breast, bottle, or solid food transitions)

    • Sleep struggles or frequent night waking

    • Bonding and attachment difficulties

    • Developmental regression or withdrawal

    • Trauma from birth complications, relinquishment from a biological or first mother, medical procedures, or separation from a caregiver

    • Emotional overwhelm in parents that makes connection harder