Using art and play therapy, I help children identify and express their kaleidoscope of feelings safely; feelings that they may unable or unwilling to verbalize for a variety of reasons. Much of my work is with school age children (ages 6-12) and teens (ages 13-20) to serve as a source of support during their parent's divorce or separation or to help manage disruptive moods or behaviors. I have extensive experience in dependency and neglect cases as well as with helping children with a traumatic history, mood disorders, and behavior concerns. I am an advocate for children to succeed academically and socially. Often times I will enlist the child's parents in therapy as research shows that children tend to make positive behavior and mood changes more quickly and that these changes tend to be longer lasting when their parents or caregivers participate in therapy.
Here are some of the goals I have helped my child and adolescent clients reach:
Learn About My Moods Express My Feelings in a Safe Manner Replace Unhelpful Behaviors with ones that are More Effective Support during My Parents' Separation/Divorce Recover from My Trauma Learn about Healthy Boundaries Improve My Relationship with My Brother/Sister Learn how to Make and Keep Friends Succeed in School Have a Supportive Person to talk with About Losing Someone I love Feel Good About Who I am
We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are different, yet the same.