Houston Family Therapy Associates

07/10/2025

Is your child having a tough time right now? The last few days have been a lot for any of us who care about children, families, and parents, and even if little kids don't understand all that's happening, they may be struggling.

Anxiety, big emotions, or sudden changes in behavior can all be signs they need extra support—and play therapy can help.

We just published a new blog post with everything Houston parents need to know about finding the right child therapist, including how to get referrals, what questions to ask, and where to start.

🧠🧸 If you’re looking for answers, you’ll find them here.
👉 https://houston-family-therapy.squarespace.com/blog/finding-a-play-therapist-in-houston

We offer free phone consults to see if we're a fit for your child or maybe just a resource for parents wondering how to talk with their children about hard things.

05/27/2025

We’re committed to kids, parents, and the professionals who help them heal.

Check out our first training through Learn Play Therapy, APT approved provider 15-241. We’ll be talking about using Adlerian Play Therapy to help tweens and teens. Saturday morning, May 31.

👀 Eye rolls. Silence. Shrugs.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in session with a teen or tween, you’re not alone. Traditional play therapy tools don’t always translate well with older kids.

That’s where Adlerian Play Therapy comes in.
This 3-hour training gives you a clear framework for connecting with adolescents through structure, metaphor, and relationship.

🎓 APT approved provider 15-241
🧠 Practical strategies
🧩 Activities to use your first day back in the office

👉 Learn how to transform resistance into connection.
📲 Enroll now at https://lynnmclean.podia.com/adlerian-play-therapy-with-adolescents-and-teens

04/04/2025

So excited to be launching Learn Play Therapy, my new play therapy training, supervision and consultation business this year. We’re an Association for Play Therapy approved provider (number 15-241), and we’re at the Texas APT conference to network and learn. Stop by and say hey!

02/13/2025

If you haven't already signed up, what are you waiting for? In this free one-hour webinar from Kate Walker Training, I'll be talking about how to be sure you're following best practices as well as legal requirements and professional guidelines if you're using play therapy in your mental health practice or considering it.

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. CST. Sign up at https://katewalkertraining.podia.com/lynn-mclean-lcsw-s-presents-ethics-in-play-therapy-practice.

02/12/2025

Our friends at Empowered and Enough, Erika Labuzan-Lopez and Melanie Graves, are helping us to Stop Saying Yes When What You Mean is No at their first retreat, April 4-6, 2025 in Houston.

They'll be helping us draw boundaries without guilt (really!), say no with confidence (you can do it), and say yes--to yourself.

If you want to know more, check out their website or comment below, and we'll connect you.

https://empoweredandenough.lpages.co/stop-saying-yes-when-what-you-mean-is-no-retreat/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIZ6U5leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZ4N1ax3gAsHrOctokjQJIl10WayDJ9czuewymAjKECr2NvvvQ2rVZoSdg_aem_D5Qx9_rPeAUnH9qyz1BKqA

02/12/2025

So excited to be presenting about being an ethical play therapist for Kate Walker Training this Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 5 p.m. This free, online, one-hour CE will discuss how to follow our licensing laws, our professional codes of ethics, and the Association for Play Therapy Best Practices guidelines.

We'll be talking to mental health professionals who are already providing services to children and to those who are considering adding play therapy to their services.

Sign up for free at https://katewalkertraining.podia.com/lynn-mclean-lcsw-s-presents-ethics-in-play-therapy-practice--did we mention it's FREE?

09/23/2024

When your child is having trouble at school, it's hard for everybody. Teachers are stressed, kids are struggling, and parents worry about how to make it right.

Teachers deserve our support. We need to talk, to listen, and to help our kids understand that they are at school to learn and why. Hearing from parents that they are working at home to support school expectations can go a long way toward helping everyone.

Unfortunately, though, the consequences that we implement at home usually don’t help kids do better a day later. It’s also confusing and unhelpful to punish for something that happened hours ago, especially for really young children.

There's a different way. We can write a new story. We can actually coach our kids to better behavior (versus punishing them after the fact). The number one mistake we make as parents is that we spend more time telling our kids what NOT to do than we do telling what we expect. There’s a fix for that. It’s called structuring. Because here’s what. Kids DO NOT want to get in trouble. And a lot of the time they are not “making bad choices.” They are incapable of making a choice in the moment because they’re confused or overwhelmed by their emotions. (Our online parent class teaches you about structuring and helping them with their emotions, along with two other game-changing skills).

If you'd like more information on how to make things work better for your kids at school and at home, sign up for our email newsletter and get your free download, "A Play Therapist Explains Why These Parenting Trends Didn't Work for You (And What to Try Instead!)" You can find it at our website (link in bio).

09/21/2024

Back to School Stress

Back to school means stress goes up. Schedules are tighter, homework starts up, and tempers get short. It’s no coincidence that kids and parents can feel like they’re clashing. Adding to that stress a few weeks into the school year is that sinking feeling the honeymoon is over with this year’s teacher--your child is bringing home more problem behavior reports than good grades. The school is pressuring you to (fill in the blank) “talk to your child,” “ask what’s going on at school,” “put some consequences into place,” and “remind your child to make good choices.” You feel like you have all of the responsibility and none of the control.

Those behaviors might not be for the reasons you think, though.

Kids get stressed, too. They’re adjusting and they know it’s not going great. They’re worried that they’re in trouble with you, and home starts feeling like a battlefield, not a respite that you all need after a long day. And kids communicate differently than adults. When they’re stressed, they’re not likely to sit us down over a glass of milk and talk it out. They fight with their siblings, they test limits, they don’t want to go to bed.

How can you tell your child is stressed if they're not talking about it, and what's your favorite way to help them? Share in the comments--you might just make somebody's life a bit easier.

09/20/2024

If your child hates school, it's worth finding out if they’re being bullied (or they’re the bully). As much as we hate to think about it, sometimes children are unkind to one another. And even harder to consider, sometimes our kids are the ones who are bullying their peers. ALL children in these situations--whether aggressor or victim--need help to make it stop.

What it looks like:
A child who’s being bullied might not want to talk about it, or they might talk a lot about the child who’s giving them trouble. They might describe their day as good or bad depending on their interactions with a child in their class. Their behavior might change, for example, avoiding a place or situation you know they’ve liked before. They may try to change their appearance suddenly. Sometimes kids who are bullying are worried about their own ability to succeed, to fit in and/or to make friends, so you may hear or see signs of these concerns.

Why it matters:
Bullying is bad for kids who experience it on both sides. It can lead to significant mental health distress and often goes unnoticed by adults.

What to do:
Pay close attention and mention things you notice to your child. Remember, if you ask a question, you might not get an answer, but if you have a hunch that something’s going on, you may be on to something. Go on and say what you’re wondering. Your child may be relieved that you’re checking in. If your child tells you that they’re experiencing bullying, believe them, and if you get the news that your child has bullied a peer, take it seriously. Try to structure your child’s environment so that they’re not exposed to the bully and help them know how to get help if they need it. Role playing solutions and how to react are powerful ways for your child to know what to do if they’re anxious or afraid.

If you’re worried about your child’s ability to succeed at school, and you’ve tried lots of things that don’t seem to be working, play therapy might be a solution. If you wonder if we’re the right fit for you, get a free phone consultation by calling (713)936-0633, and get some ideas about how we can help make things better for you and your child.

09/19/2024

Does your child hate school because they don't have friends? We each have our own personalities, and some of us are definitely more introverted than others. But if your child just doesn’t seem to be making or keeping friends, there may be something wrong.

What it looks like:
They’re usually alone on the playground or when you pick them up. They’re not talking about kids they like or reporting on things that happened with kids at school. Maybe they’re not getting invitations to outside events.

Why it matters:
Social connection is an important part of our development, and friends make life a lot more fun and interesting. Kids learn important things about themselves and how to navigate different situations.

What to do:
Set them up for success outside of school. Plan a short play date with a child who seems interesting or friendly to your child. Stay within earshot so you can lend a hand if the interactions seem to falter, and have a backup craft or snack if kids need some help filling their time. Be consistent in getting the kids together so they have lots of opportunities to build their relationship. Help your child form friendships in a way that feels workable for them. Sometimes we just need a little practice, and who better to help than you?

Sign up for our newsletter and get our free download, “A Play Therapist Explains Why These Parenting Trends Didn't Work for You (And What to Try Instead!),” on our website, HoustonFamilyTherapyAssociates.com. (link in bio). You’ll get free resources to make things better at your house.

09/18/2024

If your child is telling you they hate school, it may be because they are struggling to learn. All of us have lessons that are harder than others for us to learn, or we go through phases when we may not do as well as we’d like. But if your child is always lagging behind where you think they should be for their age, take a closer look at what’s happening for them.

What it looks like:
Bad grades, bad conduct, poor progress, and no other apparent reasons for the struggle (like a move, a death or divorce in the family, or other big stressors like pandemics or natural disasters).

Why it matters:
You want your child to learn & thrive! If there is a problem, the earlier you know about it and take steps to help, the better the outcome.

What you can do:
Rule out outside factors that might be impacting them emotionally. If you feel like that’s not what’s going on, talk to their teachers--is this what they expect from what they’ve seen of your child? What concerns do they have, compared with other kids their age? Consider an evaluation, especially a standardized assessment that compares your child’s abilities to what’s typical, based on a large number of other children their age. This might be available through the school district or from another professional like a neuropsychologist.

09/17/2024

When your little one REALLY doesn't want to go to school, it can seem like bad behavior, making excuses because they haven't done work, or trying to get extra time in front of the TV or tablet.

What it might mean, though, is that your child is struggling at school. If you're seeing the behaviors below for more days than not, consider that things might be more serious.

What it looks like:
Delays getting out of bed, getting dressed, getting in the car—all at levels higher than what you’re used to seeing. You might even see genuine fights and physical resistance about going in, or lots of tears.

Why it matters:
Your little one is showing you that there’s something really wrong. Most kids like school to some degree, and they’re not usually super opposed to going.

What you can do:
Pay attention. Ask some questions (of your child and their teachers). How are they after they’ve been at school a while? How is their mood most of the day? What’s happening when they get mad or sad? Work with them and their teacher to find some solutions vs. punishing what may be seen as bad behavior. Most kids want to succeed, and none of them likes it when they’re in trouble.

If you're concerned about your child and their adjustment to school, we're here to help. Call us at (713) 936-0633 and find out how we can help you make things better at your house.