Services & FAQ
Individual Child Led Therapy
I use play and expressive arts in therapy and work with children, ages 2 to 12 years old, who may be experiencing emotional issues, behavioral issues, relationship challenges, grief, and life transitions.
Why play and why play in therapy?
Children’s natural language is play and using play in therapy provides the power to help children to figure things out and better understand their world in a way that children naturally communicate. Children do not have abstract reasoning and cognitive/rational abilities until around age 13.
How does play in therapy work?
The therapist creates an environment and relationship by using the power of play that allows the child to change from within and heal emotionally. The therapist serves as the guide so that the work the child needs to do can take place. Children use play as their natural language and toys as their words to address difficulties, heal emotionally, and grow from within. The playroom provides the time, tools, and opportunities where the child can play out anything past, present, or future that they need to in order to make sense of their world. The child confronts their problems, addresses their difficulties, and finds healthier solutions. Things become less overwhelming and confusing. The child becomes more confident, empowered, and capable.
How does play in therapy benefit children?
Play in therapy is appropriate for every scenario and addresses social issues, emotional issues, behavioral issues, learning difficulties, situational struggles, such as divorce, death, abuse, natural disasters, a move, and illness.
Children learn to solve their own problems and become more responsible for behaviors. They learn to accept themselves, which leads to the acceptance of others. They learn an emotional vocabulary. They learn to manage big feelings through self-control, self-regulation, and improved coping skills. They build resilience, confidence, and trust themselves more. They better understand others and other people’s perspectives. They learn to interact differently in relationships with others.
How long will it take?
I recommend weekly sessions. To provide consistent, structured support, I recommend that we schedule the same date and time each week if possible. Sessions last 50 minutes. The national average is 20 weeks; however, some children will improve more quickly, and some children will take longer as they may be experiencing more complex difficulties.
How do parents and caregivers get involved?
The first session will be held with parent(s) and caregiver(s) without the child present. I will always meet with parents and caregivers before I meet with the child to hear the whole story, obtain background information, and discuss what you and your child can expect
Parent sessions are held every 5 child therapy sessions while your child is in therapy to discuss what I am observing, what we are working on, what you are seeing at home, and what is happening at school. Together, we will plan how you can support your child at home. To preserve the relationship and trust between child and therapist, I recommend that we do not communicate about the child in front of the child.
What to say to the child before the child comes?
I met a lady named Brittany. I really like her, and I think you will too. She has a huge playroom full of tons of toys, and you are going to get to play with her for an hour.
- What if the child doesn’t want to go or if they ask questions?
- It is your job just to get them here. I will take it from there.
- Reflect what they are feeling. “You are nervous to meet someone new. You are not sure about how this is going to go. You are worried that you might not like it.”
- We are going to go. If you absolutely hate it, and you never want to go back, you can tell me that you don’t want to go back, and we can talk about it.