Jan 7, 2026
VOX Mental Health is pleased to announce that we are now offering Play Therapy with Stacy Keenan, MSW, RSW, a Registered Social Worker and Certified Play Therapist. This expansion reflects our continued commitment to providing developmentally appropriate, evidence-based mental health care for children, youth, and families. To see some pictures of the space click HERE.
Play therapy is a widely recognized and clinically supported approach for working with children who may not yet have the language or cognitive capacity to express complex emotional experiences verbally. Through play, children communicate, process stress, and develop coping skills in ways that align with their developmental stage.
Play therapy is a therapeutic modality that uses play as the primary form of communication between the child and therapist. For children, play functions much like verbal language does for adults. It allows them to express emotions, make sense of experiences, and practice new ways of relating to themselves and others.
Rather than asking children to “talk about their feelings” in abstract ways, play therapy meets children where they are developmentally. Through toys, art, storytelling, and imaginative play, children can safely explore emotions, build regulation skills, and process difficult life events.
Research supports play therapy as an effective intervention for children experiencing anxiety, emotional dysregulation, behavioural concerns, trauma exposure, grief and loss, and family transitions.
At VOX Mental Health, play therapy is offered to children ages 3 and up, as well as adolescents and young adults when appropriate. Play therapy may be helpful for children navigating:
• Anxiety and worry
• Emotional regulation difficulties
• Behavioural challenges
• Trauma and adverse experiences
• Grief and loss
• Family transitions such as separation or divorce
• Stress related to school or social environments
• Neurodivergent experiences, including ADHD and Autism
Play therapy can also be particularly beneficial when children struggle to express themselves verbally, feel overwhelmed by emotions, or show distress through behaviour rather than words.
Stacy Keenan is a Registered Social Worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW) and holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto. She brings over 15 years of experience supporting children, youth, young adults, and families in hospital and community-based mental health settings.
Stacy is a Certified Play Therapist with the Canadian Association for Play Therapy and has extensive experience using both directive and non-directive play therapy approaches. Her work is grounded in a trauma-informed, strengths-based, child-centred framework that is culturally responsive and anti-oppressive.
In addition to play therapy, Stacy is trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for children, adolescents, and adults, which she integrates when clinically appropriate. She also provides parenting support, recognizing the critical role caregivers play in emotional regulation, attachment, and long-term wellbeing.
Stacy has experience supporting neurodivergent children, including those with ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder, and thoughtfully adapts her approach to meet each child’s individual needs.
At VOX Mental Health, play therapy is not just focused on the child in isolation. Caregiver involvement is an important component of the therapeutic process. Stacy works collaboratively with parents and caregivers to:
• Increase understanding of a child’s emotional and behavioural needs
• Support emotional regulation at home
• Strengthen attachment and relational safety
• Provide guidance during periods of transition or stress
This collaborative approach helps ensure that therapeutic gains extend beyond the therapy room into the child’s daily life.
VOX Mental Health is a social work–led practice grounded in ethical care, developmental understanding, and systemic awareness. Our clinicians provide psychotherapy that considers not only individual experiences, but also family systems, environmental stressors, and broader social contexts.
The addition of play therapy reflects our belief that children deserve mental health care that is tailored to how they grow, learn, and communicate. Early, developmentally appropriate intervention can support long-term emotional resilience and reduce the impact of ongoing distress.
Stacy Keenan is now booking new clients for play therapy for children ages 3 and up, as well as parenting support and EMDR-informed care when appropriate. If you are a parent, caregiver, or professional seeking support for a child, we invite you to connect with our team to learn more about whether play therapy may be a good fit. Contact VOX Mental Health to book a consultation or referral and learn how play therapy can support your child’s emotional wellbeing.
