Donation boosts therapy through play to help struggling Salem families

Ben Fennimore’s therapy sessions sometimes start with toys.

As the family mental health program director for Family Building Blocks, Fennimore works with parents — but also has sessions with children in a play therapy room, where kids lead the session by choosing what to play with.

“Whatever’s going on in their brain, their mind, their body will come out in the play naturally,” he said.

A stressed child might start a session by knocking all…