As parents, we want nothing more than to see our children happy, confident, and thriving. But sometimes kids go through seasons that are harder than others, and it can be difficult to know when to seek extra support. Play therapy is a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps children process emotions and experiences through the most natural thing they know how to do: play. Here are five signs that your child might benefit from working with a play therapist.
Sign 01
Sudden Changes in Behavior or Mood
If your normally happy, easygoing child has recently become withdrawn, irritable, clingy, or unusually aggressive, something may be going on beneath the surface. Behavioral shifts are often a child's way of communicating that they are struggling with something they do not yet have words for. Play therapy gives them a safe space to express and process those feelings.
Sign 02
Difficulty at School or Sudden Drop in Grades
Anxiety, stress at home, friendship struggles, or unresolved emotional weight can all show up as trouble focusing, refusing to go to school, or a noticeable drop in academic performance. Having worked in the Etowah County and Gadsden City school systems, I have seen firsthand how quickly a child's emotional world spills into their academic one. Early support makes a real difference.
Sign 03
They Have Experienced a Major Life Change or Loss
Divorce, a move to a new school, the death of a grandparent or pet, or a new sibling can all shake a child's world. Children often do not process big changes the same way adults do. They may seem fine on the surface and then act out weeks later. Play therapy helps children work through transitions and grief at their own pace, in their own way.
Sign 04
Physical Complaints Without a Medical Cause
Stomachaches every Sunday night before school, frequent headaches, or complaints of feeling sick when nothing physical is wrong are classic signs that a child is carrying emotional stress in their body. Kids often somatize anxiety, meaning their worry shows up physically before it shows up in words. Play therapy helps them connect those physical feelings to their emotional experience.
Sign 05
They Have Witnessed or Experienced Something Frightening
Exposure to trauma, whether it is witnessing a car accident, experiencing bullying, or being part of a difficult home situation, can leave a lasting imprint on a child's nervous system. If your child has nightmares, avoids certain situations, or seems hypervigilant or easily startled, play therapy provides a structured, gentle path to healing.
"Children do not outgrow their pain. They carry it. Our job is to help them put it down."
Rachel Hyatt, Ed.S., LPC, Certified Play Therapist
What Does Play Therapy Actually Look Like?
Play therapy is not just free play. It is a structured, clinically guided process where a trained therapist uses toys, art, sand trays, and creative expression as the language of the session. Children naturally communicate through play in ways they simply cannot through words alone. As a Certified Play Therapist, I create a safe, consistent environment where your child leads while I follow, observe, and guide.
Sessions at Open Hearts Counseling are warm, relaxed, and judgment-free. Parents are always kept informed of general progress, and I work closely with families to support changes at home as well.
When Should You Reach Out?
You do not have to wait until things feel like a crisis. If something feels off with your child and it has lasted more than a few weeks, trust that instinct. Parents know their children better than anyone, and reaching out early almost always leads to better outcomes than waiting.
Open Hearts Counseling serves children, teens, adults, and families in Gadsden and throughout Etowah County, Alabama. We accept Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield, with Cigna and United Healthcare coming soon.
Ready to take the first step for your child?
Reach out today for a free conversation about how play therapy might help your family.
Call (256) 399-9561
💕
Rachel Hyatt, Ed.S., LPC, Certified Play Therapist
Rachel is the founder of Open Hearts Counseling, LLC in Gadsden, Alabama. A lifelong Etowah County resident, she specializes in play therapy, adolescent counseling, family therapy, grief, and marriage counseling. She earned her Ed.S. from the University of West Alabama and has spent her career serving children and families in the Gadsden community.
Adolescence has always been challenging, but today's teens are navigating pressures that look very different from a generation ago. Social media, academic expectations, and constant connectivity have created new sources of stress that many parents did not experience themselves growing up. As a therapist working with teens throughout Gadsden and Etowah County, I want to share what anxiety often looks like in adolescents and how counseling can help.
Anxiety in Teens Does Not Always Look Like Worry
One of the most common things parents tell me is that they had no idea their teen was struggling until things reached a breaking point. That is because anxiety in adolescents rarely looks like sitting quietly and worrying. It often shows up as irritability, anger outbursts, withdrawal from friends and family, trouble sleeping, or a sudden drop in academic performance. Some teens become perfectionistic and overly critical of themselves. Others avoid situations entirely, skipping school events or refusing to try new things.
"Teens often do not have the words for what they are feeling. Counseling gives them the language and the space to figure it out."
Rachel Hyatt, Ed.S., LPC
Common Sources of Teen Anxiety Today
In my work with adolescents in the Gadsden community, a few themes come up again and again. Social media comparison and the pressure to present a perfect life online weighs heavily on many teens. Academic pressure, especially around college readiness, creates chronic stress starting as early as middle school. Friendship and social dynamics, which have always mattered to teens, now play out publicly and constantly through group chats and social apps, leaving very little room to simply unplug and recover.
What Counseling Actually Looks Like for a Teenager
Many parents worry their teen will refuse to talk to a therapist, and that is a completely understandable concern. In my practice, I meet teens where they are. Sessions are built around trust first. I do not force a teenager to open up before they are ready. Instead we build rapport, and over time most teens find it easier to talk to a neutral, caring adult than they expected. For younger adolescents, creative and expressive techniques often work better than straightforward conversation, similar to how play therapy works for younger children.
How Parents Can Support the Process
The most helpful thing a parent can do is normalize counseling the same way they would normalize seeing a doctor for a physical illness. Avoid framing therapy as something that is only for "serious problems." Give your teen privacy in their sessions, since confidentiality is part of what makes counseling effective for adolescents. And be patient. Progress with teenagers often happens gradually, not all at once.
If your teen is showing signs of anxiety, know that reaching out for support is one of the most protective things you can do for them. Open Hearts Counseling provides a warm, judgment-free space for teens throughout Gadsden, AL and Etowah County to work through anxiety, stress, and the everyday challenges of growing up.
Ready to support your teen?
Reach out today to schedule a conversation about how counseling can help your family.
Call (256) 399-9561
💕
Rachel Hyatt, Ed.S., LPC, Certified Play Therapist
Rachel is the founder of Open Hearts Counseling, LLC in Gadsden, Alabama. A lifelong Etowah County resident, she specializes in play therapy, adolescent counseling, family therapy, grief, and marriage counseling. She earned her Ed.S. from the University of West Alabama and has spent her career serving children and families in the Gadsden community.
One of the most common questions I hear from families in Gadsden and Etowah County is simple: "Will my insurance cover this?" Cost is often the biggest barrier standing between someone and the support they need, and I believe that barrier should be as low as possible. Here is a clear breakdown of what is covered at Open Hearts Counseling and how to get started.
Insurance We Currently Accept
Open Hearts Counseling accepts both Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield. If you or your child are covered under either of these plans, counseling sessions may be available to you at little to no out of pocket cost, depending on your specific plan details.
We are also actively working to add Cigna and United Healthcare in the near future, so if your coverage is through one of those providers, reach out and we can let you know the moment that becomes available.
Why Insurance Coverage Matters So Much in Counseling
Mental health care should not be a luxury reserved for those who can pay entirely out of pocket. Working in the Etowah County and Gadsden City school systems early in my career, I saw firsthand how many families wanted support for their children but felt priced out of it. That experience is part of why accepting Medicaid matters so deeply to me. Every child and family deserves access to compassionate care regardless of their financial situation.
"No family should have to choose between paying a bill and getting their child the support they need."
Rachel Hyatt, Ed.S., LPC
What to Do If You Are Not Sure About Your Coverage
Insurance can be confusing, and you do not need to figure it out alone. The easiest first step is simply calling our office. We can help verify your specific Medicaid or Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and walk you through what your coverage looks like before your first appointment, so there are no surprises.
What If I Don't Have Medicaid or Blue Cross?
If your insurance is not currently accepted, please still reach out. We want to talk with you about your options and help however we can, whether that means discussing self-pay rates or letting you know as soon as your provider is added to our accepted list.
Getting started with counseling should feel accessible, not overwhelming. If cost or insurance has been the thing holding you back from reaching out, let this be your sign to make the call.
Have a question about your coverage?
Call our office and we will help you understand your options before your first visit.
Call (256) 399-9561
💕
Rachel Hyatt, Ed.S., LPC, Certified Play Therapist
Rachel is the founder of Open Hearts Counseling, LLC in Gadsden, Alabama. A lifelong Etowah County resident, she specializes in play therapy, adolescent counseling, family therapy, grief, and marriage counseling. She earned her Ed.S. from the University of West Alabama and has spent her career serving children and families in the Gadsden community.
Every family goes through hard seasons. Tension between siblings, a parent and teen who cannot seem to talk without an argument, a blended family still finding its footing, or a household that just feels disconnected after a stressful year. As a family counselor in Gadsden, I often hear the same thing from parents in that first appointment: "I did not know where else to turn." Here is how to know if family counseling might help your household, and what to expect if you decide to try it.
Signs a Family Could Benefit from Counseling
Family counseling is not just for households in crisis. Some of the most common reasons families reach out include repeated conflict that never quite resolves, a major life change such as divorce, remarriage, a move, or the loss of a family member, communication that has broken down between a parent and child, or a general feeling that everyone in the house is going through the motions rather than truly connecting.
If mealtimes feel tense, conversations turn into arguments, or family members have started avoiding each other at home, those are all worth paying attention to. None of these mean something is wrong with your family. They mean your family, like every family, could use some support and a few new tools.
"A family does not need to be broken to benefit from counseling. It just needs to want to connect better."
Rachel Hyatt, Ed.S., LPC
What Family Counseling Actually Looks Like
Family sessions at Open Hearts Counseling are built around the specific dynamics of your household. Sometimes that means meeting with the whole family together. Other times it means working individually with a child or teen alongside separate check-ins with parents, especially when play therapy techniques are helpful for younger children. Every family is different, and the approach is shaped around what your household actually needs, not a one size fits all script.
The goal is always the same: helping each family member feel heard, rebuilding trust and communication, and giving your household practical tools to use at home long after sessions end.
You Do Not Need a Crisis to Reach Out
One of the biggest misconceptions about family counseling is that it is a last resort. In reality, families who reach out earlier, before resentment builds or communication fully breaks down, often see the fastest and most lasting progress. If something in your household has felt off for a while, that instinct is worth listening to.
Open Hearts Counseling proudly serves families throughout Gadsden and Etowah County, Alabama, and accepts Medicaid and Blue Cross Blue Shield, with Cigna and United Healthcare coming soon.
Ready to strengthen your family?
Reach out today to talk about what family counseling could look like for your household.
Call (256) 399-9561
💕
Rachel Hyatt, Ed.S., LPC, Certified Play Therapist
Rachel is the founder of Open Hearts Counseling, LLC in Gadsden, Alabama. A lifelong Etowah County resident, she specializes in play therapy, adolescent counseling, family therapy, grief, and marriage counseling. She earned her Ed.S. from the University of West Alabama and has spent her career serving children and families in the Gadsden community.
