Child/Teen Therapy

Are you losing sleep worried over your child or teen?
Are they isolating from friends?
Do they seem sad all the time?
Do they have extreme angry out bursts?
Are they failing or refusing to go to school?

YOU DON’T NEED GO IT ALONE

I have 25 years of experience helping kids and teen find their way through the challenges of growing up to places of success and freedom.

I work closely with parents so that you can find successful ways to support your child or teen.

I CAN HELP

Don’t wait! Reach out to for a free 20-minute phone consultation.

How I Work

“The creation of something new is not accomplish by the intellect alone but by play.”
–Carl Jung

My work as a child’s therapist is grounded in a non-pathological view. I invite your child to show up as they are with all their emotions thoughts and behaviors. I do not quickly jump to a label.

I’m curious to discover what is troubling them in their internal life and what is happening in their external world that is throwing them off track.

I work from a strengths base model. I discover together with you and your child a way to resolve their challenges: freeing them to continue to develop and enjoy life.

I listen deeply to your child and take their thought, feelings and concerns seriously. Play and imagination are a child’s primary language. Using art, sand trays, games and dramatic play gives many windows into their experience. This allows children to communicate and to develop a different relationship to their world.

You can find out more about sand play therapy here http://sandplayvideos.com/about-sandplay-therapy/

And play therapy here http://www.a4pt.org/?page=PTMakesADifference

First Step – Meeting the Parents

“Perhaps it takes courage to raise children.”
– John Steinbeck, East of Eden

When parents or caregivers reach out to me about their child or teen they are often overwhelmed and afraid. They have already tried many things. They want the best for their child or teen, but sometimes they are also feeling angry and frustrated with them.

I always meet with the caregivers first so we can talk adult to adult and you can tell me what your concerns are. I also will ask you what is unique about your child or teen. What do they love to do? What are their strengths?

I will also want to know about your parenting style. We will talk about what your fears and hopes are for your child or teen. And how I can help.

We will talk about how you can talk with your child about coming see me for therapy. It is important that you reassure them that they are not in trouble. You can tell them that you met with me, and I help kids solve their problems, so that they can get back to learning and having fun.

I will meet alone with your child or teen for the next 3 sessions. Then I will meet with you again to let you know what I recommend and to set up a more specific plan on how I can help.

We are on the same team.

I will work closely with you. Periodically we will meet for parent consultations. I will talk about the general themes I see, but will safe guard your child’s or teen’s therapy space by not sharing art or specific deals. This allow them to speak freely.

I will contact you immediately if I see any red flags – especially if they disclose any abuse or a desire to harm themselves or someone else.

You can contact me at any time with concerns. And I will return your call.

Second Step – Meeting with Your Child

“Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul.”
– Friedrich Froebel (founder of the concept of kindergarten)

When their caregiver leaves, I invite your child to just look around and see all the toys and games. I will show them the sand tray box and tell them that they can put any of the toys in thesand and build their own world. The art supplies will be available for them draw. We will talk together as they use the play room.

I will tell them there are just a few rules in the play room.

• No one gets to hurt either them or me.
• Nothing gets broken on purpose. But accidents happen.
• They can tell me anything that is on their mind. I will meet sometimes with their caregivers so they can help too.
• If they are being hurt by anyone or feel like they want to hurt themselves or someone else, I will call their parents right away so we all can help them.

TEEN THERAPY

“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”
– e. e. cummings
When I meet with your teen, I deeply respect their view of the world. I want to understand how they see their life, strengths and challenges – knowing that their developmental task is to develop a clearer sense of their identity and place in the world.

They are working to individuate from their family. Which means there are often challenges as they are learning to separate and declare their independence, while still staying in connection.

I work from a therapeutic mentorship model with teens – helping them discover their own direction and talents, make wise choices and ask for and get the support they need.

If it feels helpful to your teen we might have sessions with parents to support communication.

I see our work as a place to support your adolescent in catching their stride. So they can move into their unique life and expression from a place of freedom and responsibility.

HOW LONG DOES THERAPY LAST

• I initially meet with your child or teen for three 50-minute sessions.
• After the third session, I meet with caregiver and let you know my recommendations.
• If we agree I meet with your child or teen weekly.
• We end our sessions when our work is finished and things have resolved.
• Often the child or teen will let us know when this has happened.