Your child has been through something hard. You’re watching them struggle and you’re not sure what to do next. This is exactly the kind of moment therapy is built for. Samantha Binstock, LPC-Associate, offers warm, play-based trauma therapy for children and teens in the Houston area.
Does any of this sound familiar?
Children don’t always have words for what they’re carrying. You might be seeing it show up like this:
“My child used to be happy. Now they’re withdrawn and angry all the time.”
“The nightmares and sleep problems started after what happened.”
“They regressed… acting younger than their age, clingy, or wetting the bed again.”
“Small things set off huge meltdowns. I can’t figure out what’s triggering them.”
“They’ve shut down. They won’t talk about it… not to me, not to anyone.”
“Their teacher says they’re struggling to focus and follow directions at school.”
These are not signs of a “bad kid” or a parenting failure. They are signs of a child whose nervous system is still trying to make sense of something overwhelming. And they are signs that help is available.
What is child trauma therapy?
Child trauma therapy is a specialized form of counseling designed to help children process experiences that felt scary, overwhelming, or unsafe, so those experiences no longer control their behavior, emotions, or sense of self.
Trauma in children can stem from many sources:
- Abuse: physical, emotional, or verbal
- Witnessing domestic violence or family conflict
- Loss of a parent, sibling, or close loved one
- Medical trauma or a frightening health event
- A serious accident or natural disaster
- School bullying or social humiliation
- Parental separation or a chaotic home environment
- Any event that felt life-threatening or deeply unsafe
You don’t need to have a dramatic story to seek help. If your child is struggling and something happened, even if it seems “small” it’s worth exploring.
Signs your child may benefit from trauma therapy
Every child responds to stress differently. Some of the most common signs that a child is carrying unprocessed trauma include:
- Persistent anxiety, fear, or hypervigilance
- Nightmares or sleep disruption
- Frequent emotional outbursts or meltdowns
- Withdrawal from friends, family, or activities
- Regression to earlier behaviors (bedwetting, clinginess)
- Difficulty concentrating or declining school performance
- Complaints of stomachaches or headaches with no medical cause
- Avoidance of places, people, or topics related to the event
- Aggressive behavior or sudden personality changes
- Re-enacting upsetting events in play
If you’re seeing several of these, or they’ve been going on for more than a few weeks, reaching out for a professional evaluation is a meaningful next step, not an overreaction.
Samantha’s approach to child trauma therapy
Samantha holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health with a specialization in children and adolescents, a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential, and years of hands-on experience working with young children. She brings a developmentally informed, child-led approach to every session.
🎨 Play Therapy
For young children, play is their native language. Samantha uses art, toys, storytelling, and movement to help children express what they can’t yet say in words, creating a natural, low-pressure path to healing.
🧠Gentle Cognitive Support (CBT)
For older children and teens, Samantha uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques to help identify and shift the thought patterns and beliefs that trauma can create, like “it was my fault” or “nowhere is safe.”
🧘 Mindfulness & Regulation
Trauma lives in the body. Samantha teaches children simple, age-appropriate tools for calming their nervous system. These are skills they can use in the session and take home into daily life.
👨👩👧Parent Involvement
Parents are a critical part of the healing process. Samantha works with you to understand what your child is experiencing and equips you with concrete strategies to support them at home.
Every child is different. Samantha blends these approaches based on your child’s age, personality, and what happened to them, not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
What to expect from child trauma therapy with Samantha
Starting therapy can feel uncertain. Here’s a clear picture of how the process works:
① Free 30-minute consultation
Before anything else, you’ll have a free conversation with Samantha. No commitment required. You’ll share what’s been going on, ask questions, and get a feel for whether she’s the right fit for your child and family.
② Getting to know your child
The first few sessions are focused on building safety and trust, especially with younger children. Samantha will observe how your child plays, communicates, and relates before diving into deeper therapeutic work.
③ Active therapeutic work
Once trust is established, sessions gently shift into processing the traumatic experience, through play, creative activities, conversation, or a combination, at a pace that always follows your child’s lead.
④ Building skills and support at home
Throughout the process, Samantha equips both your child and you with practical tools, such as regulation strategies, language to use at home, and ways to reinforce the progress happening in sessions.
⑤ Gradual transition and closure
As your child heals, sessions become less frequent and eventually wrap up thoughtfully, with a clear sense of the growth they’ve made and the tools they’re taking with them.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my child needs trauma therapy vs. just time?
Time alone can help with mild stress, but when symptoms persist for more than a few weeks, worsen over time, or significantly impact your child’s daily functioning — sleep, school, friendships, family relationships — it’s a sign the experience hasn’t been fully processed. A free consultation with Samantha can help you figure out whether therapy makes sense right now
My child won’t talk about what happened. Can therapy still help?
Absolutely. Most young children don’t have the words or developmental capacity to talk directly about trauma, and that’s precisely why play therapy is so effective. Children process through play naturally. Samantha is trained to meet children where they are, without requiring them to verbalize anything before they’re ready.
What age children do you work with?
Samantha works with children from early childhood through adolescence, adapting her approach to each child’s developmental stage. She also works with the adults who care for them.
Do parents attend sessions?
It depends on the child’s age and needs. For younger children, parent involvement is often woven into the process. For older children and teens, sessions are typically child-focused, with periodic check-ins with parents to share progress and strategies. Samantha will discuss what makes sense for your family in the consultation.
How long does child trauma therapy take?
It varies significantly depending on the nature and severity of the trauma, the child’s age, and how they respond to treatment. Some children show meaningful progress in 8–12 sessions; others benefit from longer-term support. Samantha will give you an honest picture as she gets to know your child.
Do you offer sliding scale fees?
Yes. Samantha offers sliding-scale pricing because she believes cost should not be a barrier to getting your child help. Reach out to discuss what works for your family.
Do you serve families across Houston?
Samantha serves families in the greater Houston area, including the Galleria, Post Oak, Memorial, River Oaks, Meyerland, and Braeswood neighborhoods, and works with families across the state of Texas via telehealth. As a former school teacher, she brings a natural ability to keep children engaged, curious, and comfortable throughout every session.
Meet Samantha
Samantha Lubin (Binstock), M.A., M.Ed., CDA, LPC-Associate
Supervised by Sharon Bien, LPC-S · Post Oak Family Wellness · Houston, TX
Born and raised in the Braeswood area of Houston, Samantha has spent her career working with children, teens, and families navigating some of their hardest moments. Her background spans education and clinical mental health, giving her a uniquely grounded understanding of child development.
Her own lived experience managing Mild Cerebral Palsy has shaped her deep empathy for clients who feel like their body or emotions are working against them, and her conviction that healing is possible.
Samantha offers free 30-minute consultations and sliding-scale pricing to make care as accessible as possible to Houston families.
Your child doesn’t have to carry this alone.
Reaching out is the hardest step. Samantha offers a free, no-pressure 30-minute consultation so you can ask questions and get a feel for whether this is the right fit before you commit to anything.