A Time for Play was born from Houston’s recovery after Hurricane Harvey, when the city’s Jewish community saw the urgent need for children’s mental health support following flood-related trauma. Steven joined the behavioral health team to provide trauma-focused treatment and brought with him a passion for Play Therapy. By 2018, as manager of the children’s mental health program, he realized how few local Play Therapy training options existed and became an APT-Approved Provider to build accessible education opportunities in Houston. What began as a two-hour presentation grew into a comprehensive 150-hour curriculum, leading to the first full training series—Season 1—in 2019, which welcomed seven clinicians and launched the program’s signature scholarship for BIPOC students.

Since then, A Time for Play has evolved into a dynamic and inclusive training series reaching clinicians across the U.S. and beyond. Each season introduced new innovations—from virtual learning during the pandemic and nonprofit discounts, to expanded in-person trainings at Congregation Emanu El and United Way Houston, and even an extension in Louisiana. By 2025, the program had grown into an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering hundreds of hours of Play Therapy continuing education annually. Through scholarships, community partnerships, and accessible workshop formats, A Time for Play continues its mission to expand and diversify the Play Therapy profession while empowering mental health clinicians with the skills, theory, and compassion to help children heal through play

A Time for Play was a labor of love and clinical necessity. Steven L. Parks, LCSW-S, MBA, RPT-S, developed the program with the guidance and support of community Play Therapists.