Begin Within Play Therapy & Parenting Support

04/08/2026

Hi! I’m Dana!

I’m a Licensed Professional Counselor and Play Therapist (RPT-S) with over 16 years of experience supporting children and families. My work is rooted in understanding how early relationships, attachment, and experiences shape a child’s world—and how healing can happen through connection, safety, and play.

I specialize in working with young children and families navigating trauma, big emotions, life transitions, and early relational challenges. I’m endorsed as an Infant Mental Health Mentor-Clinical and am a certified Perinatal Mental Health Specialist, which means I also deeply support parents in the early seasons of parenting.

In my work, I draw from approaches like EMDR, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, Theraplay, Circle of Security, Interpersonal Neurobiology, and child-centered play therapy—but more than anything, I focus on building a relationship where your child (and you) feel truly seen, understood, and supported.

I believe play is a child’s language—and through it, we can help children process, grow, and feel safe again.

I also love supporting and educating other professionals, and have presented on topics like early attachment, trauma, and the power of play in healing.

If you’re here, you’re likely doing your best to support your child—and I’m so glad you found your way here 💛

04/07/2026

Holding boundaries with children can feel hard—especially when we’re trying to be gentle, responsive, and connected. But boundaries aren’t the opposite of connection—they’re what make connection feel safe.

When we set clear, calm limits, we’re not shutting our child down or being controlling. We’re showing them that we can handle big feelings, keep things predictable, and stay steady even when things are hard.

This isn’t passive parenting. It’s confident, connected leadership.

You can be warm and hold the limit. You can validate feelings and stay firm. And in doing so, you’re building a sense of safety your child can rely on.

04/06/2026

Same-sex parents often navigate unique and often invisible challenges, especially when it comes to building and being recognized in attachment relationships. Whether you are the non-birthing parent, navigating legal or societal barriers, or simply finding your own rhythm as a family, your role is essential and deeply impactful.

Attachment isn’t about biology. It’s about presence, consistency, and connection. And non-birthing parents play a powerful role in shaping a child’s sense of safety, trust, and belonging.

In my work, I support same-sex parents by:

• Strengthening attachment relationships across all caregivers
• Creating space for the non-birthing parent’s experience and identity
• Offering practical, relationship-based parenting support
• Honoring the unique dynamics and strengths within each family

Every child deserves to feel securely connected to the people who love them and every parent deserves support in building that bond.

04/03/2026

Join me in welcoming Alyson!

Hi, I’m Alyson 👋

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who loves supporting children and their families through life’s ups and downs. I believe that when kids feel safe, understood, and connected, they’re better able to work through big feelings and challenges.

In my work, I support children navigating anxiety, low mood, trauma, and life transitions. I take a warm, collaborative, and strengths-based approach, and I deeply value the relationship we build together.

Using child-centered and play-based approaches, I create a space where children can express themselves, feel supported, and grow—while also partnering with parents along the way.

I’m so glad you’re here 🤍

03/25/2026

Divorce and coparenting requires clarity, care, and strong boundaries.

In my role, I can hold the role of the child’s therapist. That means my focus stays on the child’s emotional world, helping them feel safe, understood, and supported during a time of change.

I also integrate parent sessions—not as a mediator—but to support each parent-child attachment relationship. This work centers on helping each parent better understand their child’s needs, reduce conflict exposure, and show up in ways that strengthen connection.

Even in the midst of separation, children benefit most when their relationships with each parent are supported with intention and care.

03/14/2026

In sandtray therapy, young children use miniature figures and sand to show what they can’t always say with words.

A child might build a family scene, create a story, or place figures in ways that reflect how they’re experiencing their world. These small scenes often give us powerful insight into a child’s feelings, relationships, and inner experiences.

When children are navigating big changes—like divorce, family stress, or transitions—sandtray provides a safe way to process those experiences through play.

03/06/2026

Children don’t always have the words to explain what they’re feeling, but they can show us through play.

In the playroom, play becomes their language. It’s where thoughts, feelings, and experiences come together and begin to make sense.

When we enter into children’s play, we’re stepping into the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet.

03/02/2026

When you walk into a play therapy room, you will see a play kitchen, dress-up, art supplies, a dollhouse, a sand tray, and many other toys.

But nothing in the room is random.

Each item is selected on purpose. There are materials for expression (art, sand, sensory), for storytelling (dolls, figures, dollhouse), for control and mastery (building, games), and for releasing big feelings safely (aggressive play options). Even how the room is arranged matters — kids need both predictability and choice to feel secure enough to open up.

The goal isn’t to entertain or distract kids.
Play is how children communicate and process experiences when they don’t yet have the words to explain what they’re feeling.

So when you see a child “just playing,” they’re often working through worries, relationships, fears, and problem-solving in the way their brain is designed to do it.

A thoughtfully designed playroom helps therapy happen without requiring a child to sit and talk like an adult.

02/01/2026

Happy start of International Play Therapy Week!

I am honored to serve as President of the New England Association for Play Therapy and celebrate International Play Therapy Week with you all! I truly love supporting the growth of our play therapy community and helping professionals feel connected, inspired, and empowered in their work. And if I’m being honest… I also love that it’s a very legitimate excuse to collect toys! Happy International Play Therapy week everyone! -Dana

01/31/2026

Parents—this one is powerful.
🗣️ Name it to tame it.

“It looks like you’re feeling frustrated right now.”

When we name emotions, we help kids feel understood—and that’s when calm becomes possible.

01/25/2026

Therapy isn’t only for moments when things feel “out of control.” It can be incredibly helpful when you start noticing behavioral changes, shifts in mood, increased irritability, withdrawal, anxiety, sleep changes, or big emotions that feel harder for your child to manage.

It’s also okay to seek support when there are changes in the family dynamic—a new sibling, separation or divorce, blending families, a move, illness, or even positive changes that still require adjustment. Kids often feel these shifts deeply, even when they can’t fully explain what’s going on.

Early support can help children build emotional awareness, coping skills, and language for their feelings before stress turns into a crisis. It sends the message: your feelings matter, and you don’t have to handle them alone.

Therapy can be preventative, supportive, and empowering—for children and for families. Reaching out early isn’t overreacting. It’s being attentive, proactive, and caring.

Begin Within in Southbury, CT is a counseling center specializing in play therapy, EMDR, and parenting support, offering a safe, nurturing space to support the emotional and behavioral needs of children and families navigating trauma, loss, and life transitions.

12/09/2025

Big news from Begin Within!

Our Southbury play therapy practice is growing — and that means more opportunities to support your child and your family.

We’re opening up additional weeknight spots and Friday sessions in our beautiful Southbury office… complete with a fully stocked play therapy playroom that kids instantly feel at home in.

Led by a Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor, Begin Within is expanding with additional seasoned therapists who bring deep experience with early childhood and compassionate parenting support.

If your child needs a safe space to process big feelings…

If your family could use guidance, connection, or a hopeful next step…

We’re here. And we would love to support you.

With playful connection—let’s Begin Within.

www.beginwithinct.com