Child-Centered Play Therapy in Austin, TX
Hope is the whole point.
Ad astra means "to the stars" — because every child deserves the chance to reach their own. I help kids ages 3 to 12, and the parents who love them, find steadier, more hopeful days.
A calm, steady space for your family
I'm Katie Sieber, a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate and former teacher and school counselor. After nearly twenty years working alongside kids and families, I opened Ad Astra Therapy to offer something simple: a warm, unhurried place for children to be understood, and for parents to feel supported rather than alone.
Read more about Katie's story →Who I work with
I work with children ages 3 to 12 and their parents or caregivers. Families come to me for all kinds of reasons — big feelings, hard transitions, or just a sense that their child could use extra support. Common concerns I help with include:
- Anxiety
- Trauma
- Grief & loss
- Behavioral challenges
- Coping skills
- Divorce & family transitions
- Parenting support
- Oppositional defiance
- Peer relationships
- Perfectionism
- Self-esteem
- Life transitions
If your child's needs turn out to be outside what I'm able to support, I'll help you find a provider who's a better fit — you won't be left to figure that out on your own.
How play therapy helps
Young children don't always have the words for what they're feeling — but they can show us through play. In a playroom stocked with purposeful toys and materials, your child leads while I follow closely, helping them express their hopes, fears, and inner world at their own pace.
Over time, that expression turns into understanding, and understanding turns into new skills — for managing big feelings, building confidence, and feeling more like themselves again.
Child-led
Your child sets the pace in a space designed to feel safe.
Skill-building
Practical coping tools grow alongside emotional insight.
Family-centered
Progress in the playroom connects back to daily life at home.
You're not just dropping your child off
Parents and caregivers are collaborative partners in this work, not bystanders. Alongside your child's sessions, I offer regular parent consultations, practical coaching, and tools you can use at home — so you feel informed, involved, and less alone in supporting your child.
Ready to take the first step?
Send me an email and I'll get back to you to talk through what your family needs. There's no pressure — just a conversation.