Play Therapy and Parent Support for Families in Orlando
Trade the daily battle for a deeper connection
When your child’s feelings are too big, the meltdowns keep taking over, or ADHD, anxiety, trauma, and family transitions make everyday life feel like a constant battle, you need support that understands both the child and the parent.
​
I provide a calm, nature-inspired space in East Orlando, Florida, where children can safely express and work through what feels too big to say out loud. Through Play Therapy, EMDR, and parent guidance, I help children feel safer, parents feel steadier, and families move out of survival mode and back toward connection.
Why is everything turning into a battle right now?
If you are here, you are probably tired of the fight. Everything feels like a struggle, from the morning routine of brushing teeth to the final battle over shoes before leaving the house. This kind of daily stress does not just wear parents down. It starts to wear on the bond with your child and the atmosphere of the entire home.
​
Behavior is communication. When a child seems anxious, irritable, rigid, or constantly overwhelmed, it often means their nervous system is carrying more than they know how to explain. Sometimes families are also trying to navigate trauma, divorce, school stress, or major life changes at the same time. I help families move out of survival mode and back toward connection by addressing the root of the struggle, not just the symptoms.
How does therapy help children who cannot explain their feelings?
For many children, sitting in a chair and talking about emotions simply does not work. It can feel boring or physically uncomfortable. I use developmentally appropriate approaches like Play Therapy and EMDR to meet children in the language they already know: imagination, movement, creativity, and play.
A room that helps children settle
My office is inspired by the colors of nature, with soft greens, sky blues, and play-based materials that help many children feel less pressured when they walk in. Sand trays, art, movement, and play give children more than one way to communicate what feels hard to explain.
EMDR for Kids: The Couch Cushion Metaphor
When something scary or upsetting happens, a child’s brain can sometimes get stuck. I explain this to children as a memory getting stuck like a toy between the couch cushions. EMDR helps the brain put that memory where it needs to be so the feeling is not so big and scary anymore. This allows children to process challenges without needing to find the perfect words.
Parents are an essential
part of the process
Therapy here is not a drop-off service. Real change happens when the grownups are involved. While parent involvement looks different for every case, the goal is to strengthen the relationship between parent and child so the whole family system begins to shift.
1. The Parent Intake
The process begins with the grownups. We start by understanding the family history, current concerns, and what life has been feeling like at home.
2. The Child Assessment
I spend time getting to know your child over initial sessions to understand how they express stress, personality, emotion, and their specific needs.
3. The Integrated Plan
We meet again to review goals and determine how parent guidance will support progress at home, providing you with practical tools you can actually use.
Meet Jennifer Wisser-Stokes
I am Jennifer Wisser-Stokes, LMHC, RPT-S, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Qualified Supervisor for Registered Mental Health Counselor Interns. I work with children ages 3 to 12 and their families in Orlando, helping them move through difficult seasons with steadiness and care. Beyond my clinical training, I bring lived understanding to families navigating neurodivergence and to homeschool families who want support without judgment.
Support without having to explain everything
As a fellow homeschool parent, I understand the values, rhythms, and real-life pressures many homeschool families carry. You do not have to explain or defend your family culture here. My work naturally leans toward play, movement, and art because many children need to feel comfortable before they can begin to open up.
Making sure this is the right fit
The goal is clarity early in the process. I am often a good fit for families dealing with ADHD, childhood anxiety, divorce adjustment, trauma, big feelings, and those seeking homeschool-aware care. If this practice is not the right clinical fit, I will help point you in a better direction.
Practice Boundaries
To protect the therapeutic relationship and keep the work centered on the child, this practice is not designed for high-conflict court involvement, custody recommendations, parenting-plan recommendations, or testimony. Jennifer also does not treat active substance abuse or eating disorders.
Private Pay and Step Up for Unique Abilities
Jennifer Wisser-Stokes Counseling LLC is a private-pay, out-of-network practice. Superbills may be provided upon request for families who want to seek possible out-of-network reimbursement.
​
I am also an approved EMA Marketplace provider for the Florida Step Up Scholarship for Unique Abilities. To help prevent interruptions in care, funds must be reserved in your account before your appointment. For a detailed walkthrough of this process, visit the Step Up Scholarship Guide.
