Parents…

Are you  feeling worried, angry, or confused about your child? Have there been countless arguments with them or they don’t seem to listen to you? Do you find yourself wondering how your child has become so difficult to get along with?

Or maybe there are significant changes in your child’s life like a divorce, move, or something traumatic like sexual abuse or a death in the family and you’re wondering how to help your child through the situation.

You are not alone! Many children go through a time of change or crisis, or experience a change in behavior. When this happens, sometimes parents feel stuck on how to help their child.

You may be wondering if you can have peace in your home again…

There is hope! You can have peace in your home and your child can flourish.

Through the help of child therapy and parent collaboration you can have peace in your family again and watch your child thrive.

You may be asking yourself….

How can therapy help my child? Aren’t they too young to understand?

Young children often are aware that they feel bad, or like something isn’t right. However, they may not understand how to communicate their thoughts and feelings to others. Play therapy and creative activities can help them to express those feelings and situations they are experiencing in a way that is age appropriate and in a way your child can understand.

How do I know if my child needs therapy?

It is a tough decision for many parents to make when it comes to the best way to help your child cope and change. Here are some signs that your child may need to see a therapist. This is not an exhaustive list, but it’s a good place to start if you’re not sure

• Sleep difficulties (nightmares, not sleeping enough, sleeping too much)
• Changes in eating habits (too much or too little)
• Aggressive behavior
• Irritable
• Withdraws from others
• Argues/fights more with peers
• Decreased interest in activities used to be interested in
• Poor Boundaries
• Bedwetting/regressing
• Changes in Grades
• Easily Agitated
• Shows few emotions
• Crying more than usual
• Change in a child’s personality
• Difficulty concentrating on daily tasks (school or home)

But my child is very young how can therapy help him or her?

Because children are growing and developing , often times they find it difficult to know how to express their thoughts, feelings and experiences using the right words. With young children (ages 3- about 9 or 10) I use play therapy to help children work through their experiences. In play therapy toys are carefully selected for children to use to express and explore the difficulties they are dealing with.

How much will I be involved in my child’s therapy?

For the first session I will meet with you (the parent/caregiver) without your child. This gives you a chance to get to know me, provide background information, and also determine if I’m a good fit for you and your child. After that, I will plan time in each session for parent consultation with or without the child in the room (depending on your needs) to discuss problems to give feedback about ways you can support your child at home.

What types of children do you work with?

I work with children with various issues. Many of my clients have experienced divorce, abuse, or some type of life crisis. I also have experience with children who are struggling with anxiety, anger, or problems focusing at school.

 I offer a specialty in play therapy with children, and I partner with parents and focus therapy based on the needs of each child and family.