Specialty: Play Therapy

Child Therapy / Play Therapy

Children rarely have the insight and vocabulary to tell us what they need to heal. Adults know children need help if they cry, act out, or behave in ways that are "not normal". Play therapy is a way to access a child's mind on their level and aid them in healing the hurt places. Through art, toys, games, sand play, dress up, make-believe, or physical play, children communicate most effectively in the ways they play. Please check out this video from the Association for Play Therapy for more information about Play Therapy and to see different Play Therapists in action:

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Child and Adolescent Therapy

Child-Adolescent

Children and adolescents have specific needs when it comes to therapeutic services. Younger children often do not have the sophisticated vocabulary to verbalize their concerns. A therapist trained to work specifically with children through Play Therapy can help them work through these issues much more effectively. Adolescents, on the other hand, may have developed the vocabulary to articulate their needs, however, sometimes they do not feel they are able to talk to many people about their problems. Therapy can help by creating a safe, non-judgmental space for these children and adolescents to express themselves in the ways they need to regarding issues such as:

Family Problems / Divorce Issues
Stress at Home or School
Peer Pressure / Bullying
Body Image Concerns / Eating Habits
Depression / Anxiety

Sessions are usually 60 minutes long and scheduled weekly. Because every child and teens' needs are different, I do not prescribe a certain amount of sessions (though 12-20 total sessions is an average number of times to see each other). It is best for the therapeutic relationship if I meet with the child or adolescent separately for a number of sessions and then have occasional parent sessions to discuss any issues or concerns. Further specific policies for therapeutic treatment of minors can be found on the paperwork page.

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