Child and Teen Therapy
We are not the survival of the fittest,
we are the survival of the nurtured.
- Luis Cozolino
Overview
I use an integrative approach to therapy which means that I use different types of therapy depending on the needs of the child and family. All my work is firmly rooted in neuroscience and an understanding of child development. Families come to therapy for a wide variety of reasons. Sometimes there are behavioral issues and parents aren’t sure what to do. Other times the child or family has gone through a stressful or traumatic situation and need extra support. If you are wondering if you or your children could benefit from therapy, feel free to reach out for a consultation.
The Role of Parents
All children thrive when they have strong and secure attachments with their caregivers. Therefore all work with children and youth includes parent support and may include family therapy depending on your needs and goals. Please click here to read more about what parents can expect when their child comes for therapy on my blog.
Young Children
Play serves as a window into the thoughts and emotions of children, offering a glimpse into how they interpret and understand the world around them. Play is their instinctive way of processing life. Much like adults engage in conversation to express themselves, children use play to communicate their inner world. Since play is natural to children, play therapy is the best form of therapy. I use play therapy to support their self-expression, to help them build skills, and to help them build on their strengths.
I may also support play therapy with EMDR, family therapy, and parent coaching.
Older Children & Teens
For older children and teenagers, I use a combination of talk therapy and expressive therapies which may include sand tray, art, writing, EMDR, and play depending on their interests, strengths, and needs.
Expressive therapies can help to connect with inner experience and can help to integrate and regulate the brain. As we work together, many teens get more in touch with their inherent gifts and strengths, and they are able to build resilience.
“Just as every seed has within it a germ that holds the capacity and drive to grow toward the light and to become whatever plant is coded within its genes, it is my view that all human beings are born with the possibility and drive to not only survive, but to grow, flourish and be whole.”