The parent-child relationship is one of the most important places for healing and growth.
I have worked with parent-child relationship challenges, depression, anxiety, ADHD, and physical/other disability. I have also worked with separation anxiety, divorce, loss, and grief.
The therapy I do with children has two parts: Play Therapy & Family Therapy
About play therapy:
I utilize play therapy because children learn and make meaning through play. They also process their emotional experiences through play. My play therapy sessions include emotions check-ins focused on building emotional literacy, and part of the session is spent in child-directed play. Play therapy enables children to express and process what they cannot yet articulate or work through verbally.
About family therapy:
I always include parents in therapy with children. The parent-child relationship is one of the most important places for healing and growth. I work within the attachment theory model, which posits that the best way to create and maintain changes in a child’s life is to work within the family relationships. Attending to the parent-child bond creates positive changes that ripple throughout the child’s emotional experience and behavior.
Why Family Therapy?
Family therapy is especially important for younger children (~5 or under). This form of therapy is flexible and responsive to the family’s needs. I usually do not recommend only child therapy for children this young. The therapy would consist of sessions with only caregivers and/or sessions where both children and caregivers are present. We will work collaboratively to determine the shape and frequency of treatment that would best serve your child and family.