An experienced Southern California educator, Timothy Kovacs serves as the assistant director of educational services for the Baldwin Park Unified School District, leading the Early Childhood Education program. Timothy Kovacs is also a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) who operates a private practice. His role involves providing mental health services with a focus on children age 3 and above. He studies family systems and uses play therapy in his work.

Play therapy involves using a combination of play techniques to facilitate an individual’s processing of emotions and expression of feelings. While some adults may benefit from it, children between the ages of 3 and 12 are the predominant recipients of play therapy. Children may be suitable candidates if they shows signs of developmental delay, eating or toileting disorders, depression, and difficulty controlling anger, among other issues.

A trained therapist creates a supportive and safe environment for the child to engage in different types of play. Interacting with recipients this way enables the therapist to better understand their emotions and thoughts and help them deal with unresolved trauma. The therapy may also involve redirecting inappropriate behaviors through effective coping mechanisms. Play therapy can help with anxiety alleviation, empathy promotion, social skills facilitation, family relationship strengthening, and infusion of self-respect.