Common Spring Therapy Group

02/11/2026

One of our favorite parts of this work is building relationships with people who care deeply about kids, their families and our community. Connecting with Foster Families Navigation & Resource Center reminded me just how powerful collaboration can be! When agencies and providers come together, our clients and their families benefit! Thank you for the warm welcome! I am so excited about how we can serve together 🤍

02/07/2026

Thank you so much to Shop with Moxie for helping us celebrate International Play Therapy Week! We finished our celebration by hosting a book reading of Maybe: A Story about the Endless Potential in All of Us by Kobi Yamada. ❤️

02/07/2026

One of the most common questions parents ask is, “What should I tell my child about starting therapy?”

You don’t need a perfect script to answer! You just need to help them feel safe. At Common Spring, we help children feel comfortable from the very first visit so therapy never feels scary or overwhelming. Save this post to come back to when the conversation feels hard!

02/04/2026

For Day 4 of International Play Therapy Week, we’re highlighting a fun local favorite right here in Midland, Little Midland. This kid-sized city inside the Ashman Loft gives children ages 0-8 the chance to explore, imagine, and practice important social skills like sharing, problem-solving, cooperation, and compassion through dramatic play.

As play experts, we know that free and imaginative play is essential for healthy development. Spaces like this invite children to express themselves, build confidence, and learn about their world in ways that feel natural and joyful. What a special place to nurture creativity and connection through play! We are lucky to have so many wonderful gems in our community that celebrate and encourage PLAY!

FRIDAY AFTERNOON DATES!

Many of you have been asking when our next Friday afternoon Open Play date is. What about the next five 2026 dates? Barring any unforeseen circumstances, here they are!

February 13th
March 13th
April 24th
May 8th
June 12th

Tell all your friends and mark your calendars so you don't miss one! We can't wait to see you there!

02/04/2026

Woohoo! Abby is now a Registered Play Therapist- Supervisor™ through the Association for Play Therapy!

This credential represents advanced training, deep clinical experience, and a continued commitment to providing developmentally appropriate, ethical, and effective care for children and families. Becoming an RPT-S™ allows Abby to not only continue this meaningful work, but also to mentor and support clinicians who feel called to serve children through play. Here’s to growing the play therapy community and expanding access to specialized care for the families who need it most!

If you’re a clinician interested in deepening your play therapy work, reach out for future opportunities for supervision and learning. https://www.commonspringtherapy.com/contact

02/03/2026

For the first day of our International Play Therapy Week celebration, I stopped by the fidget station at Shop with Moxie!

They have a wonderful space where kids can explore and try different fidgets, along with helpful information about how these tools support regulation, focus, and emotional expression. Fidgets can be a simple yet powerful way to help children feel more grounded and in control of their bodies.

We love seeing local businesses support children’s wellbeing in such thoughtful ways and celebrating International Play Therapy Week with us! ❤

02/03/2026

Happy International Play Therapy Week!

This week is especially meaningful to us as we celebrate the power of play and the incredible healing that can happen through it.

At Common Spring Therapy Group, our playroom is more than a room with toys. It is a nurturing space where children can express themselves, feel heard, and begin to heal in ways that honor their unique experiences. We are so grateful to walk alongside the children and families we serve and witness their growth every day.

02/02/2026

Meet Arianah! 🤍

Arianah Rankin, LMSW-C is now a full-time therapist at Common Spring Therapy Group, and we couldn’t be more excited! She specializes in working with children and teens using Trauma-Focused CBT and Play Therapy to help young clients build coping skills, regulate emotions, and heal in developmentally supportive ways.

We’re proud to have Arianah on our team and serving families in our community!

01/27/2026

Have you thought about becoming a Play Therapist or are interested in using play therapy? Check out becoming a Registered Play Therapist™!

An RPT™ is a licensed mental health professional who has pursued specialized training and supervision in play therapy, an evidence-based approach that meets children where they are developmentally. Play therapy isn’t about filling time with toys. It’s about understanding play themes, building safety, and helping children process experiences in ways words alone can’t reach.

Children communicate through play long before they can put big experiences into words. Registered Play Therapists receive specialized training to understand and respond to this language in a therapeutic, developmentally appropriate way. When you see “RPT™,” it means your child’s therapist has gone beyond general training to specialize in play therapy.

Do you need to be an RPT™ to use play therapy skills in sessions? Of course not! Many clinicians appropriately use play-based and expressive tools in their work with children. The RPT™ credential simply reflects advanced training and supervised experience in using play therapy as a primary clinical approach, not a restriction on creativity or connection in the therapy room.

01/23/2026

Abby is officially an EMDRIA Certified Therapist!

This certification reflects advanced training in EMDR, ongoing consultation, and a strong commitment to providing high-quality, trauma-informed care. We’re so proud and grateful to continue supporting clients on their healing journeys.

EMDR is an evidence-based treatment that can be effective for trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and more.

01/23/2026

When you need help, it can be hard to know who to call. In Midland County, three simple numbers connect you to support at different moments, and all of them are here to help you, not judge you.

❤️Call 911 if there is an emergency and someone is in immediate danger. This includes medical emergencies, fires, serious accidents, or situations where safety is at risk right now. Calling 911 brings first responders as quickly as possible.

💛Call or text 988 if you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis. This could include overwhelming anxiety, emotional distress, or thoughts of self-harm. The 988 Su***de and Crisis Lifeline connects you with trained counselors who will listen, help you feel grounded, and connect you to local support if needed. You do not have to be in immediate danger to reach out.

💙Call 211 when you need help finding resources and support in your daily life. This might include food assistance, housing support, utility help, childcare resources, healthcare access, or other community services. 211 Northeast Michigan connects you with local organizations that can help meet your needs or answer questions.

All three numbers are free, confidential, and available to support our community. Reaching out is a sign of strength, and help is always closer than you think.

10/30/2025

Have you ever noticed yourself saying something to your children that your parent said to you? Or have you ever wondered how to guide and support your children effectively, while still preparing them for independence? In this workshop we will explore and reflect on our parenting styles, how they have developed, the benefits and drawbacks of each kind of parenting style, and how to find a balance that best supports a strong family for you. Tuesday, October 28 from 8-9:3:0pm ET. Certificates and MIRegistry credit are available. Registration is required: https://bit.ly/fall2025extras
Please contact Courtney Aldrich, aldric82@msu.edu, with questions.