As of June 17, 2026,

a few new clients may be added to the waiting list.

This is a child-centered, diversity affirming practice.

Hello and thank you for your interest in play therapy!

For referrals, please note the following important details*

about my play therapy practice and how I work:

* I primarily see children 3-8 years old for individual, child-centered play therapy. I request regular parent or caregiver sessions for supporting children's progress outside the playroom. While I serve children with many different diagnoses and presenting issues, I have specialized training in helping with grief, trauma and attachment issues.

* I have contracts with the following Virginia Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs):

Anthem Healthkeepers Plus

Sentara

Please be sure Jennifer Thomas, LCSW is listed as a behavioral health provider for your policy. Clients with Medicaid as primary or secondary healthcare coverage are not permitted to "pay out-of-pocket" if I do not have a contract with your MCO; however, your DSS case manager may be able to change your MCO, often with at least 45 days' notice. Please note: if you have a deductible on your primary plan and a secondary Medicaid plan with which I do not have a contract, I cannot see your child.

* I have contracts with the following private insurances:

Aetna

Anthem, Anthem Healthkeepers

Please be sure Jennifer Thomas, LCSW is listed as a behavioral health provider for your specific policy. This should be searchable on your insurance company's website. When looking up that information, be sure to check your benefits--Will you have a co-pay (often $20-35 per session). or will you need to pay contracted-rate session fees (often $100-165 per session) until you meet your deductible? When does your deductible start over? Will sessions with me even count towards your deductible? You will be responsible for all session charges if the insurance company denies the charges. ($150-175 per session.)

* I do not submit claims or provide "Super Bills" for submission to insurance companies for which I am "out-of-network." Because even Aetna, Anthem and Anthem Healthkeepers policies may use other companies for mental health/behavioral healthcare coverage, it is very important that you ensure that I am listed as a provider for your policy.

* Please note that flexibility with scheduling is limited, and currently no after-school or Saturday appointments are available. While I prefer that children not miss school, the only openings for Fall 2026 are during the late morning/early afternoon. Children typically attend play therapy weekly for at least 6 months--it's quite a commitment, so please consider work and activity schedules, transportation and health issues, etc. with my limited availability. Children not seen for over 30 days will be taken out of the schedule and placed back on the waiting list with priority; a new assessment may be required to determine medical necessity for insurance coverage.

* Because of the intensity of the work and expertise required, I currently refer all new clients working through parental separation, divorce or associated custody issues to other local therapists with more current training and experience in this specialization.

* My play therapy practice is not a forensic process. Making custody or visitation recommendations and/or conducting custody evaluations are outside the scope of my practice. My role is to support children's mental health and their healing from and living through difficult life situations. It is very possible that children will benefit from child-centered play therapy without ever sharing many or even any details directly with me. I strongly respect that they get to decide, which is a foundational tenet of play therapy, which I have studied and practiced for over 20 years.

If your child meets the criteria above for age and insurance, and if you are available for weekly sessions and understand the boundaries around my scope of practice, please email me at JenniferThomasLCSW@gmail.com. Please briefly explain a little about your concerns while being aware that email is not private and I cannot be responsible for information you decide to send. (Do not use full name, date of birth, etc.) I will acknowledge your email as soon as my schedule permits. If needed, I will suggest other therapists with more specialization. Please note that I do all of my administrative work, while the focus of my time is with children while in session. I will get back to you as soon as I am able. Thank you for your understanding!

If your child does not meet the criteria above, I suggest calling large practices with multiple therapists or doing a therapist/provider search on www.a4pt.org or www.psychologytoday.com.

I know that it can be time-consuming and frustrating to find just the right child therapist for your family. I will try to help the best that I can, and I hope having this information is a positive start.

Best wishes.

Last updated on June 17, 2026.