Meet Our Therapist
Dunnavin McMunigal, LPCC
Dunnavin graduated from Regis University in 2023 with his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Dunnavin is passionate about working with kids and teens through the use of creative interventions and play therapy. He believes in giving his clients practical tools that they can use immediately in their everyday lives in order to make a change in their behavior and emotional states for the better. He approaches each client with a natural curiosity to learn all about them and to accompany them on their journey to become the best version of themselves.
Dunnavin loves to use Reality Therapy as well as Child-Centered play therapy in his work with kids and teens. Through these theories, he allows his clients to have control over their experience in therapy while also providing meaningful ways for them to make the change they want to see in themselves.
What is play therapy?
Play therapy is one of the leading methods of therapeutically working with children. In play therapy, toys act as the child's words and play becomes the child's language (Landreth, 2002).
Play therapy is led by a trained therapist, who uses specific toys to help facilitate a “conversation” with the client. The act of utilizing the toys elicits themes (either symbolic or literal) that the therapist can look for. Examples of themes include control, power, stress, excitement, freedom, and creativity, just to name a few. These themes typically give the therapist some indication of what the child is experiencing in their everyday life and/or the lack of something they need in their lives.
How can play therapy benefit my child?
The ability to act out these themes gives the child an opportunity for emotional release. Play therapy has been shown to decrease children’s anxiety levels and help them strengthen their emotion regulation skills. In addition, the therapeutic relationship that is formed between the child and the therapist provides a corrective emotional experience that promotes healing for the child. As the therapist learns more about the underlying drivers of a child’s behavioral/emotional struggles, they can help the parents better understand how to help the child feel supported, accepted, and loved.
For a more in-depth exploration of play therapy and its many benefits, please visit the Association for Play Therapy website, which you can find here.
The Rules of the Playroom
Dunnavin only has four rules in the playroom:
1. The child doesn’t get hurt.
2. The therapist doesn’t get hurt.
3. The toys and the room don’t get hurt (accidents do happen, though!).
4. The sand stays in the sand tray (he learned this one the hard way).
After these simple rules are established, the children are the leaders of the play in the room. They get to choose what they play with and how they use this item, as well as how the therapist gets to interact with the play. This allows the child to feel in control, which is something that children don’t get to experience much outside of the play therapy room. During sessions, children are able to learn more about themselves, how they problem solve, and how they relate to others.