For Families · What to Expect

From first call to first session.

Reaching out can be the hardest part. Here's exactly what happens from the moment you call Therapy Playhouse — step by step, no surprises.

You don't need a diagnosis. You don't need paperwork. You just need to start the conversation.

01Step one · The call

A real human answers.

You call Therapy Playhouse (or send a short note), and someone from our family team gets back to you — usually the same day. We ask what you're seeing with your child, where you live, and what you're hoping therapy might help with. That's it. No forms, no clinical jargon.

How long: 15–20 minutes
What you need: Nothing. No diagnosis, no referral paperwork required to start.
Next step: We match you with the right discipline (or disciplines) and schedule an evaluation.

If you're nervous — that's normal. Most families don't know exactly what to ask when they call. That's our job. Lead with what you're seeing, and we'll help translate.

02Step two · The evaluation

A therapist comes to you.

A licensed therapist visits your home (or your child's daycare, school, or wherever's easiest for your family) and spends time with your child. They observe, play, run developmental assessments, and ask you questions. It's low-stakes — your child may not even realize an evaluation is happening.

How long: 1 visit, 60 minutes.
Where: Your home by default. School or daycare if you prefer.
What to prep: Nothing. The therapist brings everything. If your child uses specific equipment, let us know ahead.
Report: Written evaluation report delivered within 2 weeks.

What it is, and isn't. Evaluation is observation and play — not formal testing in a scary sense. Your child doesn't need to perform.

03Step three · The plan

You review it together.

Your therapist writes a plan of care — goals, recommended frequency, expected outcomes. Then you sit down together and go through it. You get to ask questions, push back, and adjust before anything starts. The plan is a conversation, not a document handed down.

How long: Review conversation about 30 minutes.
Timing: Delivered within 2 weeks of evaluation.
What you need: Your questions. And your honest reaction.
Approval: Nothing begins until you sign off on the plan.

If the plan doesn't match what you were expecting — say so. We'd much rather adjust now than three months in.

04Step four · The first session

The therapist meets your child where they are.

Your therapist arrives at the time you agreed on, meets your child wherever they're most comfortable — on the floor, on the couch, in the backyard — and starts building rapport. The first session is about getting to know each other. The real therapy work ramps up in sessions two and three.

How long: 45–60 minutes.
What to prep: Nothing. Your child doesn't need to prepare, and you don't need to prep them either.
What to say: "A nice person is coming to play with you today" is plenty.
Where: At home. Occasionally at school or daycare depending on goals.

Expect session one to feel playful and low-stakes. Trust between therapist and child is the foundation. We don't skip it.

05Step five · Ongoing

Regular sessions, reviewed and refined.

Sessions happen at the cadence set in the plan — usually weekly or every other week. Every six months we do a formal re-evaluation: what's working, what's not, what to adjust. You see the goals, you see the progress, and you shape the direction with the therapist.

Cadence: Typically weekly or biweekly. Set in the plan.
Session length: 45–60 minutes.
Re-evaluation: Every 6 months (sooner if needed).
Duration: Varies by child. Some families need 3–6 months; many relationships go for years.

Therapy ends when the goals are met — or when your child ages out of a program like Early Steps at 3. We plan the ending as intentionally as the beginning.

One more thing

If any step along the way doesn't feel right, tell us.

We've been doing this for 26 years, but every family and every child is different. The point of the plan, the sessions, and the re-evaluations is to keep adjusting until the fit is right. You can always call. You can always change direction.

Ready for step one?

Start the conversation — no diagnosis, no paperwork, no pressure.

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