Play Therapy Omaha

03/19/2026

☕️ Conversations with a Therapist ☕️

This month in honor of World Teen Mental Wellness we asked our provider Eric Depue his thoughts on teen voice, visibility, and empowerment in the therapy room. Here are his thoughts!

🎙️ Q: How does visibility and voice relate to teen wellness?
💛 A: "Teen voice and visibility are essential themes in every young person’s growth and identity development. Throughout my professional career working primarily with children and adolescents, I’ve come to deeply understand how important it is for teens to feel seen, heard, and respected. Adolescence is a complex and often overwhelming stage of life. Teens discover who they are, navigate peer relationships, manage school, experience rapid physical and emotional changes, and often feel the constant pressures of expectations from the adults around them. It’s no surprise that many struggle to find and use their voice."

🎙️ Q: How do you empower teens to find their voice?
💛 A: "When I first begin working with a teenage client, my first priority is creating a safe, open environment where they feel free to be fully themselves, whatever that looks like. From the start, I make it clear that I work for them. I meet them where they are, without judgment, and honor their perspective as valid and important. I also intentionally incorporate appropriate humor and light sarcasm when it fits the client’s personality. This helps reduce pressure, build rapport, and create a space that feels genuine rather than clinical. I am transparent about the importance of trust in our relationship. I tell each client directly that I will do everything in my power to build and maintain that trust, and then I follow through consistently. Trust isn’t just stated; it’s demonstrated through reliability, honesty, and clear expectations.

Helping teens find their voice starts with giving them a space where their voice truly matters!"

03/17/2026

🍀 We are feeling extra lucky today as we celebrate our social workers! 🍀 You're beacons of hope, shining bright in darkest moments. We celebrate your tireless efforts, dedication & love. You're change-makers, game-changers & hope-bringers, making a profound impact daily!

We see you. We value you. We appreciate you. 🩵

Thank you for the compassion you extend, the boundaries you hold, and the hope you help cultivate.

03/11/2026

Spring break can be a fun shift in routine—and a tricky one for kids who thrive on structure.

A little planning can go a long way! Try keeping a loose daily rhythm, talking ahead of time about what to expect, and building in moments for movement, rest, and connection.

Remember, big changes in routine can bring big feelings—and that’s okay. With flexibility, predictability, and a little extra patience, spring break can be a time for both fun and regulation. 🌼

03/08/2026

Today we celebrate the strength, resilience, and stories of women everywhere. ✨

To the women learning to use their voice.
To the women healing.
To the women setting boundaries.
To the women raising the next generation.
To the women redefining what “strong” looks like.

Your story matters. Your voice matters. You matter.

03/02/2026

Today is World Teen Mental Wellness Day 💚

To every teen reading this:
Being a teenager is not easy! You don’t have to have everything figured out right now. It’s okay to ask questions, change your mind, and take things one step at a time. Your feelings are valid. You are not “too much.” And you don’t have to handle everything alone.

To parents and caregivers:
Parenting a teen can sometimes feel like walking a tightrope. You don’t have to have all the right words — your steady presence, willingness to listen, and openness to learn mean more than you think!

Mental health matters — at every age and every stage of life.

03/01/2026

Have to feel it to heal it 🤍

Dr Vanessa Lapointe 🩷

02/25/2026

Cultural sensitivity in therapy isn't a checklist - it's a way of being.

As therapists, our work isn’t just to support individual coping — it’s also to acknowledge the larger contexts impacting our clients’ lives. Cultural humility is ongoing. It requires listening, learning, and being willing to adjust. It means recognizing that distress doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Culture shapes meaning and systems shape experience. And healing must make space for both.

02/24/2026

02/24/2026

🤍

Sometimes we forget that little eyes are always watching.

Not just how we speak to them…
But how we speak to ourselves.
How we cope when we’re overwhelmed.
How we respond when things don’t go to plan.

Children don’t learn emotional regulation from being told what to do.
They learn it from what they see, feel, and experience alongside us.

That doesn’t mean we have to be calm all the time.
It means we can be real—and show them what repair, reflection, and trying again looks like.

When we pause, breathe, and come back to connection…
We’re not just getting through the moment.
We’re teaching skills they’ll carry for life.

If you’re trying to support a child with big feelings, you don’t have to do it alone.
My Managing Big Feelings Toolkit is designed to help you guide, not control. Link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

02/18/2026

Representation matters in play!

The toys on our shelves, the books we read, the stories we tell — they all send messages about who belongs and whose stories are important.

When children see their culture, their family structure, their skin tone, their traditions, and their lived experiences reflected in the therapy room, something powerful happens:
❤️ They feel seen.
💚 They feel safe.
💛 They feel supported.

Play is language. And every child deserves to see their language honored :)

02/16/2026

02/16/2026

Did you know? Children often show stress through behavior, not words. Changes in sleep, mood, or play can be a child’s way of saying, “Something feels big right now.” Self-regulation, curiosity, and connection go a long way!