About Play Therapy

My primary approach when working alongside you and your child in therapy is to use play therapy, particularly Child-Centered Play Therapy and Gestalt Play Therapy.

Why Play Therapy?

Play therapy with Jenga with a child

Play is serious learning and the work of childhood, as Mr. Fred Rogers says. It is a child’s natural medium of self-expression in that it allows children to communicate their emotions, wishes, and struggles and to explore alternative, adaptive responses to varying situations. Play allows children to safely understand difficult experiences and strengthen their resiliency when faced with future challenges.

I choose to use Child-Centered Play Therapy and Gestalt Play Therapy because they:

  • acknowledge children holistically, with their strengths and differences

  • create a safe space that grants children the permission to be vulnerable about their feelings

  • help children become aware and attuned to significant sensations within themselves and their environment so they can respond accordingly and reasonably

  • help children to better understand consequences and boundaries for their actions, while also discovering alternative methods to solving problems

  • help children take responsibility for their actions and make thoughtful choices

How do we start?

Child with parents in a family counseling session

To begin: Prior to meeting with your child, I have a thorough intake with the parent(s)/guardian(s) only to set up a historical and relational framework to better understand your child and your concerns. This is also a time for you as the parents to get to know me as someone you can trust to work with your child. In this first meeting, I hope to learn more about your overall family system and address any other questions you may have.

Following that parent meeting: In the first session when I meet your child, the primary focus is to allow your child to explore and build their trust and safety to allow for vulnerability. For some, it will take 3 or more sessions before they are fully comfortable to explore their thoughts and feelings. For others, it will take one session for them to feel ready to engage. Both situations are normal!  

After 4-5 sessions with your child: I will meet again with you to share my observations and feedback. Therapy with children is confidential, just as therapy with adults. This confidentiality is crucial so your child feels comfortable and free enough to be vulnerable in session. However, I will share with you any patterns in their play and my impressions of your child thus far.

Does my child need play therapy?

Here are a few of the situations that children face when starting play therapy:

  • Anger and aggressive behaviors

  • Anxiety (i.e. being fearful of certain situations, perfectionist behaviors, negative self-talk, etc.)

  • Grief and loss (i.e. death, loss of an important relationship, interstate or multiple moves, etc.)

  • Trauma (i.e. abuse, neglect, exposure to frightening experiences, etc.)

  • Difficulties with peers

  • Adjustments due to parents' divorce/separation