Kids Therapy in Plano, TX: Helping Children and Families Find Their Footing Again

When kids struggle, they rarely tell you with words. They show you. With a slammed door, a sudden silence, or tears over something that seems too small to cry about.

Kids therapy in Plano starts right there. Meeting your child in their behavior, not just their conversation.

I am Aaron Helm, LPC Associate, supervised by Katherine Dunham, MS, LPC-Supervisor. I bring my full self into the room. A steady presence. Honest reactions. A genuine belief that real change happens through connection. My goal is simple: help your child find their footing again, and help your family learn to play again, both literally and emotionally.

Is This Your Child?

You know them better than anyone. Lately, though, something feels off.

Maybe they used to light up, and now they fade into the background. Maybe you are getting calls from the school about aggressive outbursts or an inability to focus. Maybe they went through something scary. Trauma or abuse. And you can see the weight of it in their sleep and their sudden clinginess.

If this sounds familiar, you do not have to figure it out alone.

How I Work with Kids Ages 3 to 13

I adapt my approach based on their age.

Play Therapy:

For ages 3 to 8, we stay strictly in the playroom. Play is their first language. Humans are preverbal long before we are verbal, and I use child-centered play therapy to follow their lead. They express what they do not yet have words for through toys and imagination.

Activity-Expressive Therapy:

For ages 8 to 13, I blend play with expressive activities. We might shoot hoops, brush a doll's hair, or play a card game. As your child matures and shows me they are ready, I gradually introduce more complex conversation. We move at their pace, not mine.

The relationship, not the technique, drives the healing. Through this steady, consistent presence, we build relational equity organically. Your child learns that this space is safe, and that I am invested in who they are becoming.

What You Can Expect

I will not promise your child will leave therapy completely healed. Healing is not linear, and I do not sell false hope.

But I will tell you what I commonly see in the families I work with.

• Self-esteem growth. Kids start standing a little taller. They feel more empowered and confident in who they are. That quiet hesitance begins to lift.
• Reduced outbursts. Kids show real progress managing anger and frustration. The outbursts get shorter. They start catching themselves before they escalate. The meltdowns that used to derail your whole evening become less frequent.
• Better focus. For kids navigating ADHD, I often see improved focus and control over their thinking. They build awareness of their own impulses. School becomes a little less overwhelming.
• Genuine joy. This one surprises a lot of parents. Many of my kids genuinely look forward to coming to therapy. That joy spills out of the playroom and into your home. You start seeing their laugh again.

These changes take time. But you will start to see small shifts early on. That is usually where the hope begins to return.

What If My Kid Won't Talk?

I know it is frustrating when they won't talk. I get it.

But try sitting in their shoes for a minute. You are a kid in a room with a grown man you just met. You are expected to share your deepest vulnerabilities. Of course it takes time.

During those quieter sessions, I communicate one thing clearly: this is your space. You get to talk when you are ready. Until then, we play. We shoot hoops. We listen to their music. I show them I care about what they care about.

I ask parents to have patience here. I know that waiting is hard. But pushing a child to open up before they trust you rarely works. Building that trust is my job, and I take it seriously.

Collaborating with You, the Parent

Parent collaboration is essential for lasting progress.

I see your child for one hour a week. You get significantly more hours than that. I will not leave you empty-handed.

You will walk away with practical tools to love and care for your child well. You will gain a clearer understanding of what is actually going on inside their head. Many parents tell me this coaching improves not just their parenting, but their adult relationships, too.

I am direct. I will tell you what I am seeing in the room, and I will ask the hard questions to gain clarity. But I will never bulldoze your child to get there. Many parents tell me working with me is a breath of fresh air. I respond quickly. I offer helpful insights. And I empower you to engage your child in ways that benefit your whole family.

Kids Therapy vs. Play Therapy: Which Does My Child Need?

This is a common question. The answer depends on your child's age and needs.

Kids Therapy: Ages 8 to 13. A flexible mix of play, expressive activities, and conversation. Best for broad struggles like self-esteem, behavior, or trauma recovery.

Play Therapy: Ages 3 to 8. A purely child-led. Best for anxiety, ADHD, abuse recovery, or when a child needs to process entirely through imaginative play.

Not sure which path fits your child? That is exactly what the free consultation is for. We will figure it out together.

Take the First Step

Reaching out for your child is one of the most loving things you can do as a parent.

If you are not sure if this is the right fit, that is exactly what the free 15-minute consultation is for. No pressure. Just a conversation to see if we are a good match.