Children & Parents

Play Therapy

Child Centered Play Therapy is a gentle and compassionate approach to therapy that honors children's inherent capacities for healing and growth when given the space to engage in unstructured play. During these non-directive play therapy sessions, I support the child in expressing themselves freely by naming the actions, feelings, and motivations I observe in their play without judgement. My approach integrates elements of Synergetic Play Therapy through an understanding of the nervous system the modeling self-regulation strategies in session.

Parenting Support

Whether in coordination with play therapy or on its own parenting support in counseling is proactive approach to parenting challenges, helping parents build a nurturing and effective environment for their child's growth and development. I provide parents with information about child development, age-appropriate expectations, and effective parenting strategies, while encouraing parents to show up for their children authentically with their whole selves. My approach integrates elements of Collaborative Problem Solving in order to interrupt the dynamics that lead to parent-child conflict and Synergetic Play Therapy to support parents in modeling self-regulation strategies for their children.

  • Play therapy can be a valuable therapeutic approach for children and families experiencing transitions or changes. Whether it's a divorce, relocation, the introduction of a new family member, or any other significant change, play therapy can support children and parents with normalization, emotional expression, stress reduction, and strengthening family bonds.

  • Play therapy can be a highly effective therapeutic approach for addressing childhood anxiety and depression by creating a non-threatening environment in order to normalize the child’s experience. Play therapy can support children with emotional expression, anxiety reduction, self-esteem, and coping skills.

  • Play therapy with children in conjunction with Collaborative Problem Solving Training for parents can be effective in supporting children with explosive emotions. Explosive emotions can manifest as extreme anger, frustration, or even fear and can sometimes include physical actions such as screaming, crying, hitting, or throwing objects. Play therapy can support the child with emotional expression and self regulation. While Collaborative Problem Solving can help parents learn to identify triggers and engage improve communication.

  • Play Therapy offers a structured, child-centered environment that can help address the unique needs and challenges associated with ADHD. Play therapy can support children with normalizinf their experience and developing a positive self image as well as emotional expression as well as sensory integration and regulation. Support for ADHD can also include collaboration with schools and other environments.