Currently Accepting New Clients!
Child Therapy
Play is a child's work and this is not a trivial pursuit.
-Alfred Adler
Therapy may be right for your child if:
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They seem angry, easily frustrated, and uncooperative on a consistent basis, despite your best efforts
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Their behavior is impacting the rest of your family
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Their behavior is causing problems at daycare or school
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They are exhibiting aggressive behavior such as hitting or biting
Play Therapy
(Ideal for Children 3-10 Years of Age)
My goal with every client is to create a safe place for a trusting relationship to develop. In my office, your child is in charge. They are allowed to do and play with anything, in any way they want. They are not allowed to hurt themselves or anybody else in the room. Play is a child’s first language. Through play, they express emotions they can’t put words to yet. In the playroom, children face choices, challenges, risks, frustration, discouragement, anger, sadness, hurt, loneliness, boredom, and fear. But they are not alone. I am there, observing, following, accompanying, challenging, questioning, encouraging, and reassuring. As they work through the play session, children learn to face and move through challenges by exploring their perceptions, thoughts, and behavior.
Children move through five main stages in play therapy:
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Exploration
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Testing
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Dependency
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Growth
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Termination
Every child has their own temperament, personality, set of strengths, and challenges, so pace varies, but movement happens. Often, I’ll ask the family to get involved because a child’s immediate environment is the home. They cannot change on their own, and small tweaks can make all the difference for everyone involved. With patience and persistence, children accomplish great things. They find that change is possible and that they can work toward solutions.
Call for a free 15-minute consultation at 512-827-8813.
Adolescent Therapy
As with all my clients, I allow the adolescent to lead the session. My goal is for the adolescent to feel heard and respected. Their thoughts matter, their feelings are real, and they are important. Understanding that adolescence is a dynamic developmental period where the needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness are crucial to their long-term healthy development, I make sure to address these needs throughout the process of therapy.
Adolescents are in the difficult process of discovering who they are apart from their parents, which is why parents feel pushed out. They have a right to develop boundaries for themselves. I will help them navigate this process by developing healthy communication, assertiveness, problem-solving skills, empathy, and broader perspectives. I try to build on their strengths, challenge their creativity, and help them discover the richness inside. Adolescence lasts until a person’s mid-twenties, so in therapy, I hope to help them create a map to guide them through this tumultuous and exciting part of their lives.
Call for a free 15-minute consultation at 512-827-8813.