Heather Pina-McGhee

Hello! I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor based in Mansfield, Texas, with over 18 years of experience in mental health, child welfare, and education. I specialize in working with children and teens, including young children who may not yet have the words to express what they're experiencing.

I use developmentally appropriate approaches, including play therapy and sandtray, to support children with emotional, behavioral, and relationship challenges. I also work closely with parents through parent consultations, helping them better understand their child's needs, respond to challenging behaviors, and strengthen their relationship.

If my availability or specialty isn't the right fit for your family, I have several clinicians at Life Chapters Counseling who work with children, teens, and families, and I'm happy to help connect you with someone who may be a great fit.

My approach is child-centered, relationship-focused, and grounded in the belief that children communicate and heal differently than adults. For younger children, I primarily use Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT), which gives children the opportunity to express feelings, work through experiences, build confidence, and develop greater emotional regulation through their natural language of play.

With older children and teens, I tailor therapy to their developmental needs and may incorporate expressive activities, sandtray, conversation, and trauma-informed approaches. I also believe parents are an important part of the therapeutic process and provide support and consultation to help caregivers better understand and respond to their child's emotional and behavioral needs.

For children, the first session typically begins with a parent or caregiver so I can learn more about your concerns, your child's history, strengths, and what you hope will improve through counseling. This also gives you an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about how play therapy works.

When I meet with your child, my focus is on creating a safe, accepting environment and beginning to build a trusting therapeutic relationship. Children aren't expected to sit down and explain everything they're feeling. Instead, they are given developmentally appropriate ways to communicate and express themselves.

Parents can also expect ongoing collaboration throughout the therapy process, including opportunities to discuss progress, concerns, and ways to support their child at home.