THERAPY FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Helping families thrive, not only survive.

Parenting doesn’t come with an instruction manual.

When our children are struggling, we sometimes feel unequipped to address the problems alone. We may need someone to come alongside us and be an ally in raising whole and healthy children. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and in today’s world our villages feel very disjointed. Many parents suffer from feeling isolated from larger communities and feeling the weight of childrearing solely on their shoulders.

Having a meaningful connection with another caring adult can do wonders for a child. And having some support as you navigate parenthood can be a gamechanger for parents.

Therapy gives your child a safe place to process their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It also teaches them at a young age that it is okay to ask for help and it is okay to talk about feelings. If your child has experienced trauma, healthy processing of those memories now can prevent many problems for them in the future.

Does this sound familiar?

  • Your child is hurting, and you don’t know how to help.

  • Your child seems emotionally dysregulated, causing frequent upheaval in the entire family.

  • You feel powerless to create the change you want in your family.

  • You are tired, and your confidence is struggling.

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”

-Fred Rogers

how can therapy help

Therapy gives your child an early start at learning vital coping skills and healthy attitudes toward life.

When working with children and adolescents, I often use various experiential forms of therapy. Through play, art, and movement we explore their inner worlds and their outer circumstances.

Play is a powerful way for children to process their thoughts and emotions. And it feels unthreatening to most children. They don’t feel like they are being put in a sterile room for some kind of “treatment”. They get to experience healing in a way that feels fun and natural.

I enjoy working with children and adolescents and involving the parents, as well. Healthy parents are the most crucial ingredient in the wellbeing of the child. I strive to work together with parents to help their children find healing. Sometimes children need help healing from traumatic experiences. Sometimes they need help learning how to manage their emotions or reframe their thoughts. My goal is to provide a safe space where they feel comfortable. I also want them to enjoy therapy and desire to return.

I hold a certification in Trauma Play Therapy through the Trauma Play Institute.

imagine if you…

Were able to give your child a more solid foundation for mental health and wellbeing than what you may have experienced.

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Many adults end up working very hard in order to heal childhood wounds that were never addressed. Giving your child the opportunity to heal now is an incredible gift for their future lives.

Could see your child begin to heal and their life start to improve.

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Parents want so deeply for their children to be happy and whole. I will work with you and your child to figure out what their specific needs are and address those needs through therapy.

Felt like you had an ally to help you navigate the challenges your child is facing.

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I want to come alongside you to help your child and to strengthen your role as a parent, as well as your bond with them.

faqs

Common questions child and adolescent therapy

  • This varies by situation, but most often the greatest benefit is seen with weekly sessions. If time or financial constraints make it difficult to meet weekly (and your child is in a relatively stable place), we can typically meet every other week and still see progress.

  • I strive to make therapy a safe place for your child. That means that I grant them some confidentiality around what is said in sessions. However, I will be working with you closely on overall themes and will inform you if at any time I suspect your child is in danger.

  • At times there will be sessions where I will request parent participation if possible. This is more common with younger children than with adolescents. However, I conduct family sessions with adolescents, as well, when appropriate.

I want you to know:

You don’t have to navigate these challenges alone.

There is help to be found.