Child and Family Therapy
Play Therapy
Family Therapy
Parenting Education
Children often do not have the words to express what they are feeling or thinking. Traditional talk therapy alone is rarely successful in helping children process difficult life situations. Play therapy involves children sharing their feelings and working through problems using play rather than just talking. The toys are the child's words and play is the child's language.
Family therapy seeks to reduce stress and conflict by improving the interactions between family members. This type of counseling views problems as patterns or systems that need adjusting as opposed to viewing problems as residing in the person.
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I often use a play-based approach to family therapy, which is more successful in engaging children in the process. I also have extensive training in attachment therapy, including Theraplay and filial therapy. Attachment therapy is used in instances where the root cause of the presenting issues involve a child's attachment to a primary caregiver. Often, improved attachment or connection between parents and children may improve other issues going on as well.
Parenting education is used often as an adjuct to play therapy and/or family therapy. Unfortunately, children are not born with a manual and parenting is not easy. I utilize a parenting approach with an emphasis on connection, attachment, and positive discipline. The specific approach is geared toward the family, the presenting issues, and parenting styles. For some additional parenting resources, look under the Resources section of the website.