Today we’d like to introduce you to Jasmine Berger.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I fell in love with play therapy during an internship at a therapeutic preschool. This was the first time I saw a therapist use play in that way, and I was struck by how powerful it was for children. After graduating from the Brown School of Social Work, I continued working with children and families in non-profits and schools. Those spaces shaped me deeply and gave me such valuable experience, but they also highlighted for me some significant gaps in care.
One of the most consistent needs I saw was among foster and adoptive youth. They made up a large portion of my caseload, yet there weren’t enough resources designed specifically for them. That inspired me to dig deeper into attachment work and attachment trauma, and to imagine a space where kids who had experienced attachment disruptions or significant traumas could come and feel truly welcomed. I wanted to create a place where parents never had to apologize for their child’s behavior, where all kids and families felt wanted here, and where our team would feel confident and competent in supporting them. My goal has always been to help kids feel good about themselves, which in turn often eases the behaviors adults are most worried about.
After a few years in community work, though, I was feeling burnt out. I didn’t feel like I could show up as the kind of clinician I wanted to be. That’s when I made the decision to start my own private practice — Bud to Bloom Play Therapy. At Bud to Bloom, I wanted not only to provide accessible, high-quality therapy for kids, especially Black families who are too often left out of or harmed through mental health care, but also to build a practice where therapists are supported both professionally and personally. I believe the well-being of the therapist directly impacts the care we provide to children and their families. Now, Bud to Bloom is more than a practice. We’re a growing community resource providing high-quality play therapy, professional development for clinicians, and in-school partnerships. Our goal is to keep growing the impact of play therapy in St. Louis, both inside and outside our walls.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely been a road—with plenty of bumps along the way. Running a business is full of things you can’t really learn until you’re doing the thing. Whether it’s finances, hiring, or creating processes and procedures, there have been a handful of moments where something didn’t go as planned, and we had to regroup. Each of those moments has challenged us to build stronger policies and systems, which has helped us sustain this work for longer.
One of the biggest learning curves for me has been the financial side of things. It wasn’t something I learned in school, but it’s critical to making sure the practice is sustainable for years to come. It’s a delicate balance of providing well-paying jobs for therapists with accessible care for children and their families in our community. Balancing that mission-driven accessibility with financial stability has been one of the biggest challenges, but has also allowed us to deepen our values of being resourceful, creative, collaborative problem-solvers.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We began with a simple but profound belief: that play is the natural language of children, and through it, we can better understand their worlds. We specialize in using play as a bridge—between children and their caregivers, between adolescents and their peers, and between communities and the young people who shape them. Sometimes this happens in small, one-on-one moments, like when a parent discovers new ways to connect with their child through imaginative play, or a child finds the words for big feelings through a game. Other times, it takes the form of larger initiatives—bringing play-based practices into peer groups, building partnerships with schools, and helping communities see the transformative role of play in learning, growth, and healing.
We don’t see play as an “extra” or a distraction from “real work.” We know it is the real work of childhood. Where others might overlook or undervalue play, we recognize it as powerful, effective, and deeply important. Our approach is rooted in honoring play as both a joyful activity and a sophisticated tool for understanding children’s needs, relationships, emotions, and internal and external worlds. This belief shapes everything we do, from intimate family interactions to broader collaborations.
We want people to know that our work meets children and families where they are. Our offerings range from direct support for parents and children to workshops, school partnerships, and community collaborations. Across all of these, our message is consistent: play is a powerful tool for connection, healing, and growth. Whether we’re working with one family in a small room or an entire school community, we’re showing what becomes possible when play is taken seriously.
What does success mean to you?
For us, success is not only measured in numbers—it’s in the moments of connection and understanding we help create. It’s a child who feels truly seen, a parent who discovers new joy in playing with their child, or a classroom that becomes more compassionate and curious because play was valued there. On a larger scale, success is building a cultural shift where communities embrace play as essential, not optional, in the healthy development of children.
Pricing:
- $50-$200
- OON with insurance companies, superbill available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.budtobloomplaytherapy.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/budtobloomplaytherapy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/budtobloomplaytherapy
