You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.   Plato

Children

Is your child disengaged, highly anxious, or having difficulty connecting or getting along with peers? Does it seem like teaching and discipline are not helping your child develop in these areas? 

I help children who are struggling emotionally learn to communicate their needs and reconnect socially. 

Children often communicate their fears and hurts best through action, art and play. Play therapy taps into a child’s creativity and helps them express and explore feelings, thoughts, experiences and behaviors in a safe context. Through play, children find new courage, they begin to envision different outcomes and they become more self-possessed and less overcome by what is troubling them. 

I find real delight in working with children because of the courage and creativity that comes with the vulnerability of childhood.

I specialize in helping children with symptoms including: 

•  Anxiety
  
• Fears
• Difficulty eating/overeating
• Bed wetting
  
• Isolating
• Social Avoidance
• Aggression
• Attachment Struggles
• Nightmares

Effectiveness of Play Therapy

Research demonstrates that play therapy effectively:

• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Decreases maladaptive school behavior
• Improves social and emotional adjustment
• Reduces symptoms of depression
• Improves social awareness of autistic children

I utilize a child-centered play therapy approach allowing each child to choose his or her most comfortable mode of communication. I work in ongoing collaboration with parents and set up open communication that supports the work your child is doing in therapy. This can include family sessions, sessions with just parents or guardians, or scheduled phone conversations.