Using hand puppets, drawing pictures with crayons or markers, and playing with dolls and board games are all parts of Play Therapy, a new Behavioral Health Service offered at Whiteside County Health Department.

Play Therapy lets children and young teens use familiar objects to express their inner-most feelings and emotions which they otherwise may have difficulty expressing.

Trained play therapists can help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development, according to the Association for Play Therapy.

Mary Alice Wentling, Behavioral Health coordinator of Whiteside County Health Department, has been a play therapist for six years. She is vice president of the Illinois Association for Play Therapy.

For more information or to make an appointment, call Whiteside County Health Department Behavioral Health Services at (815) 626-2230.