What Is AutPlay Therapy? A Mom's Guide to Autism-Affirming Play Therapy

Send us Fan Mail Play therapy gets thrown around a lot — but most moms have no idea what it actually looks like, or whether it's even an option for their neurodivergent child. In this episode, Pam sits down with Allison, a marriage and family therapist working toward her Registered Play Therapist credential, who's also certified in AutPlay Therapy — a neurodiversity-affirming approach designed specifically for autistic and neurodivergent kids. Allison breaks down what a real play therapy session looks like, how it's different from talk therapy, how she reads a playroom, and why "meeting the child where they are" — not changing them — is the whole point. In this episode: - What play therapy actually is (and isn't) - Why play is how kids process their world, long before they can talk about it - What AutPlay Therapy is and how it supports autistic and neurodivergent kids specifically - What a typical session looks like, and how long treatment usually takes - How to know therapy is working - Pam's honest question every mom asks: "Is it really worth it?" - How to find the right play therapist for your child — and what to ask them Support the show