Play Therapy for Children and Families Navigating Autism Spectrum, Disability, and other Medical Health Conditions in the Inland Empire

Parenting is hard, but nobody ever told you how hard it can be when your child is struggling to be understood due to their neurodivergence, disability or other medical health conditions. The journey in learning how to navigate a world that is not always adaptable for your child can be filled with challenges and uncertainties, leaving you feeling burnt out and alone. However, you don’t have to face this journey alone. As a dedicated autism play therapist in the Inland Empire, I team up with parents and provide a supportive play therapy environment for children who are struggling to be understood and accepted for who they are.

Understanding Play Therapy

Play Therapy isn’t just play, it’s communication. Developmentally, children do not have the ability to be cognitive or rational like adults, so naturally, play is their first language. As a play therapist specializing in autism in the Inland Empire, I strategically utilize play therapy to help children express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings. In play therapy, toys are like the child's words and play is the child's language. Through play, therapy may help children learn more adaptive behaviors when they are emotional or have social skills deficits.

I am trained in Child Centered Play Therapy, a play therapy framework designed to address the mental health needs of all children and all abilities. Combined with over 10 years of experience providing therapy to people with different diagnoses and disabilities, I pride myself in adapting my therapeutic space to fit your child’s unique needs in the Inland Empire.

How I Can Help

The Medical Therapist, Jenna Hardy-Surina, LMFT, is a compassionate mental health professional who specializes in providing tailored support to children and families living with disabilities and medical health conditions. As an autism play therapist in the Inland Empire, here are some ways I can assist you on your journey:

• Child Play Therapy: One-on-one play therapy sessions with your child and the therapist. Children use play to communicate their emotions and how they feel. Play Therapy gives children the opportunity to deal with their fears, anxiety and resolve psychosocial difficulties in a calm and safe, nurturing environment.

• Family + Child Play Therapy Sessions: We know that working with the family is key to helping children. Family + Child play therapy sessions focus on the use of play therapy to help families grow closer and learn better ways to connect and communicate.

• Parent Consultation Sessions: 30-minute sessions to get the support you need to navigate your child’s tricky behavior and big emotions, and the knowledge you deserve to nurture your child’s healthy socio-emotional development in a way that makes sense for your unique child and your family.

• Child Centered Approach: An adaptive and affirming play therapy approach for children of all abilities. Our play therapy sessions work well with children who struggle with little to no engagement or who are non-verbal. Our play therapy sessions create opportunities for adaptive play times to improve connection and relationship development. This approach will be taught to parents to implement in their home.

About Jenna

Jenna is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California who has over a decade of experience helping support people living with disabilities and chronic health conditions. Alongside her experience working with adults with disabilities, Jenna started her journey as a therapist working with traumatized children in Head Start pre-schools across San Bernardino County. Jenna is trained in Child Centered Play Therapy, a play therapy framework designed to address mental health needs of all children of all abilities and is a currently completing her education requirements to be a Registered Play Therapist. Jenna is also a parent to her 3 year old daughter and enjoys being humbled by her own parenting problem-solving. Jenna’s biggest passion is helping empower children to find their own greatness and helping parents find their superpowers, too.

Disclaimer:

As a play therapist, I do not do Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy for autistic children or other forms of neurodivergence.

I offer play therapy sessions in-person ONLY.