• A neurodivergent child may struggle to name feeling helpless and instead call it anger while using sandtray to show a character who feels trapped or helpless.
• In a classic parents-divorcing case, a seven-year-old may parrot their parents’ explanation that the divorce is not their fault, and they are still a family. However, they may play out a narrative where everything is the child’s fault.
Yes, but +90785 is an Audit Magnet scrutiny from insurance companies, but this does not mean they should to determine the medical necessity of using play therapy to overcome communication barriers and to perform this type of treatment.
In addition to determining the medical necessity, it is important to code used due to use of play equipment to overcome developmental required by ethical documentation and insurance compliance, such as a session description that includes techniques used, play behaviors, and play equipment that were used. To be clear, unless play therapy
Is it Worth It? The RPT™ credential provides professional standing and expert designation. It provides a community of highly specialized clinicians as resources for therapists and clients alike. It provides a greater level that cost.
code one of the ways the expertise demonstrated in an RPT™ could
The Truth A common motivation barrier for clinicians to earn their RPT™ is the Interactional Complexity code.
SPECIAL SECTION
References: CPT® professional edition. American Medical Association. 2022 guidelines for reporting interactive complexity. https://www.
apaservices.org/practice/reimbursement/health-codes/2022-
CPT code 90785: Interactive complexity add-on.
Play Therapy with Children: A meta-analytic review of treatment outcomes. Professional Psychology Research and Practice, 36 Local coverage determination (LCD): Psychiatry and psychology services.
https://downloads.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/lcd_ Journal of Consulting Psychology, 24
Koukourikos, K., Tsaloglidou, A., Tzeha, L., Iliadis, C., Frantzana, A., Materia Socio-Medica, 33
toward parent engagement. International Journal of Play Therapy, 33
90785 CPT fee schedule.
https://payerprice.com/ Reichenberger, V., van der Watt, A. S. J., Louw, Q., Seedat, S., & Mapping play-based interventions for children with disabilities in LMICs: A scoping review on cultural relevance, implementation, and impact. Saslow, L. R., McCoy, S., van der Löwe, I., Cosley, B., Vartan, A., Oveis, pressure: low linguistic complexity is linked to high physiological
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robyn D. Reyna,MA, LPC-S, RPT-S™, RST, is the founder of Calming Communities Counseling relationship-based care for children and families. Grounded in interpersonal neurobiology, her work emphasizes connection, emotional safety, and honoring each child’s unique developmental pathway while supporting caregivers in building attuned, responsive relationships.
robyn@calmingcommunities.com
www.a4pt.org | June 2026 | PLAYTHERAPY | 15
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