We were lucky to catch up with Cristal Alvarado recently and have shared our conversation below.

Cristal, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

A defining moment in my professional career was having a research article published in a major Play Therapy Journal.

For a little backstory, I am a bilingual Chicana/Chicane therapist working with families that primarily speak Spanish. A lot of the materials and games that are common in play therapy spaces are written in English and the imagery doesn’t necessarily speak to the everyday lives of the families I was working with. So it felt weird to have a selection of games for families that were not representative of them. With time and experience, I learned how to incorporate traditional cultural games into my work and I noticed a change in my work with clients. A lot of my clients and their families had a huge smile when I would pull out these games because I had something that was very familiar to them. I’m sure it felt like a sigh of relief, like, “this person gets me.”

It was that change that led me to write a research article about that work that I was doing with these traditional cultural games. I would think to myself, “there must be so many more cool games that are probably collecting dust in people’s closets that deserve to come out and be used in therapy.” I want to inspire others to start incorporating traditional cultural games into their work. So I wrote this article, submitted it …… and I got denied. But I did not let that stop me. I decided to keep working on this and to find the right people to help. And thankfully, after a year and many revisions – it was published. It was a LONG journey but it was very worth it and I feel like it was a big project that sums up my career and the work that I do overall.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Play Therapist and Educator. A lot of the work that I do is to show other therapists how to get started in play therapy and how to provide culturally inclusive and responsive care. Anyone can visit my website and look at the trainings I offer as well as bilingual materials that can be used in play therapy or by the general public. When I first started my website, there were very little bilingual play therapy materials available out in the market. I decided that if I wanted more bilingual and inclusive materials, then I just had to go out and make it myself!

So I make bilingual materials that therapists can use in their spaces. Some of the materials I make are play therapy specific and some others are very general. I make posters that any therapist can hang in their office even if they are not play therapists. Some of my materials can also used by non-therapists as well. Families and teachers can use some of these materials to build connections, create discussions, or make a space more inclusive. I make posters that show people of various backgrounds or may show different languages.

In the last 4 years I have seen a growth in the production and accessibility of bilingual materials. However, I still feel like there is so much more room for growth ! My aim is for sure to make bilingual therapeutic material but I know I cannot be the only one. I hope my work, materials, and trainings inspire others to create cultural and diverse representation/education that is still missing in our therapeutic spaces.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The most effective strategies for growing your clientele in any business is to “build relationships people run to” and to “never give up and keep going.” I have learned that when you start your own business, there is always something to work on. That is not to say that you shouldn’t take time off. I don’t believe that people need to constantly work in order to be successful. People need a break from work so they can come back and look at it with fresh eyes. However, I do think there are times when things might be a little slower and those are the times to do research and outreach. Those are the times to reach out to potential new clients. That also happens to be the hardest because it’s difficult to put yourself out there. But I have found that if you cast a wide net, you will get a few people that call back and turn into clients. So don’t give and keep trying.

It helps to not just find new clients but to have regular clients that return time and time again to your business. At least 50% of the work is before the job is even done: it’s the initial phone call, the communication between both parties, and the follow through on the promises made. Transparency and consistency can go a long way to building strong business relationships. And I feel that when you provide a high level of care and relationship building in your work, you can bet that your clients will come back to you. Having regulars in your business is also super beneficial in keeping a business running and expanding. They are also the ones that provide the best referrals!

Do you think you’d choose a different profession or specialty if you were starting now?

If I could go back in time, I don’t think I would change my profession or career. I love where I am at the moment. I don’t feel like I’m in a point in my career where I am bored or not excited about the work that I am doing. If anything, I feel like I don’t have enough time to complete all the future goals I have for myself. There are so many potentials for future growth and that keeps me motivated and moving forward. With that being said, I think people just have to find the work that excites them everyday. There is no way that starting your own business and working at it day to day will be sustainable if you are not passionate about what you are doing. Starting your own business and building your own path is going to require a lot more time, energy, and dedication from you. Maybe even more than you thought was even possible. However, I do find that when you find the thing you are passionate about, it is so much more rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: FluentInPlayTherapy.com
• Instagram: @fluent_in_playtherapy
• Other: TikTok: @fluent_in_playtherapy

Image Credits
Photo Credit: Jordan Reid