AutPlay® Therapy

AutPlay® Therapy for Neurodivergent Children in North Texas

At Layers Counseling Specialists, we help neurodivergent children and teens across Collin County thrive through AutPlay® Therapy—a play-based, neurodiversity-affirming approach designed to support emotional growth, social connections, and family bonding. Whether your child is struggling with sensory overwhelm at Plano ISD, meltdowns during social interactions at Frisco parks, or challenges expressing their needs at home, AutPlay meets them where they are—through the power of play. Proudly serving Plano, Frisco, and Allen since 2018, we specialize in celebrating your child’s unique brain while helping them build essential life skills.

Common Needs We Support with AutPlay®:

  • Emotional regulation challenges (meltdowns, shutdowns, or anxiety)
  • Social communication differences or peer difficulties
  • Sensory processing struggles (overwhelm or avoidance)
  • Rigid thinking or resistance to transitions
  • Low self-esteem or masking burnout
  • Parent-child connection stressors

Understanding AutPlay® Therapy

AutPlay® Therapy is designed for neurodivergent children and teens—and in North Texas, their struggles often show up in ways that feel confusing or isolating. Many families share experiences like:

  • Meltdowns or shutdowns after school from sensory overload
  • Difficulty connecting with peers, despite wanting friendships
  • Rigid routines that fall apart when life doesn’t go as planned
  • Anxiety or low self-esteem from feeling "too different"
  • Parent-child tension when communication feels impossible

The good news? Neurodivergence isn't a problem to fix - it's a difference to understand and celebrate. AutPlay® helps children express emotions through play, develop self-regulation skills, strengthen family bonds, and embrace their unique strengths in a neurodiversity-affirming environment.

Our Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach to AutPlay® Therapy

We use play-based, research-supported methods to help neurodivergent children express themselves, build emotional regulation skills, and thrive as their authentic selves:

1. Child-Centered Play Therapy

AutPlay® uses play - art, stories, and sensory activities - to help children express emotions, ease anxiety, and build social skills on their terms.

2. Parent Coaching (FMA)

We teach parents play-based techniques to strengthen connections and reinforce therapy goals at home.

3. Sensory Supports

Our neurodiversity-affirming approach helps kids self-regulate while honoring their unique sensory needs.

What Every AutPlay® Treatment Plan Includes

Play-based interventions tailored to your child’s unique needs
Parent/caregiver coaching to deepen understanding and connection
Tools for emotional regulation, social engagement, and self-advocacy
Psychoeducation about your child’s neurotype (autism, ADHD, sensory differences, etc.)
A strengths-based approach that celebrates neurodivergence, never "fixes" it

Our integrative model helps children reduce distress, build confidence, and navigate the world with greater joy and self-assurance.

Therapists at Layers Counseling Specialists in Plano, TX

Who We Help with AutPlay® Therapy

Neurodivergent Children & Teens

We support autistic, ADHD, and sensory-sensitive kids (ages 3-18) in building emotional regulation, social connections, and self-advocacy skills—through play, not pressure. Therapy celebrates their neurotype while helping them navigate school, friendships, and family life with confidence.

Parents & Caregivers

We empower families with neurodiversity-affirming strategies to:

  • Strengthen parent-child bonds through play (Follow Me Approach)
  • Reduce meltdowns and sensory overwhelm
  • Navigate IEPs/school systems as effective advocates
  • Move beyond "behavior management" to deeper understanding

Families Seeking Affirming Care

For those tired of therapies that focus on "fixing" their child, AutPlay® offers:

  • A safe space for unmasking and self-discovery
  • Tools that honor sensory/communication differences
  • Collaborative goal-setting centered on joy and growth

Why Choose Our Plano Practice?

Therapists at Layers Counseling Specialists in Plano, TX

Neurodiversity-Affirming Specialists

Our team doesn’t just work with neurodivergent children—we center their needs. With advanced training in AutPlay® Therapy, sensory integration, and play-based interventions, we go beyond traditional talk therapy. Every session celebrates your child’s unique brain while building emotional regulation, social confidence, and joyful connections.

Texas-Sized Understanding

We know neurodivergent kids face specific challenges here in North Texas—whether it’s sensory overload in bustling Plano ISD hallways, social pressures at Frisco playgrounds, or the demand to "mask" in structured environments. Our therapy adapts to your child’s world, using play to help them thrive at home, school, and beyond.

AutPlay® Therapy Specialists

Licensed therapist providing OCD and anxiety counseling at Layers Counseling Specialists office in Plano, Texas

Schedule your free 15-minute consultation today!

Licensed therapist providing OCD and anxiety counseling at Layers Counseling Specialists office in Plano, Texas
Licensed therapist providing OCD and anxiety counseling at Layers Counseling Specialists office in Plano, Texas
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