(ages 6-10)
Child Therapy
Understanding Play Therapy
Play therapy is a natural, organic approach that goes straight to the heart of how children learn, grow, and communicate. As Gary Landreth, Ed.D., famously stated: “Play is the language of children and toys are their words.”
Why Play? (The Science)
Because the prefrontal cortex (the brain’s logic and reasoning center) is not yet fully developed in children, traditional talk therapy can be frustrating and ineffective. Play therapy bypasses this developmental barrier by speaking directly to the limbic system—the emotional center of the brain.
To deepen this work, I also incorporate Brainspotting. This is a powerful, focused treatment that works by identifying “spots” in a child’s visual field that help them access and process trauma or stuck emotions held in the subcortical brain. By combining play with Brainspotting, we can release and heal trauma in a safe, protective environment where I am fully present, attuned, and resonating with your child.
My Framework and Who I Serve
I primarily work with children and adolescents navigating anxiety, depression, or trauma. My goal is to help them bring all parts of themselves into integration. My framework is:
- Relational & Attachment-Focused: Rooted in Interpersonal Neurobiology.
- Adaptive: Using directive or non-directive approaches based on your child’s needs.
- Holistic: Integrating experiential models, child-centered play, mindfulness, and a growth mindset.
The Therapeutic Environment
My practice features a specialized playroom designed for both emotional expression and physical regulation. Here, children find “words” through:
- Imagination: A playhouse, hospital, airport, puppets, and costumes.
- Creativity: Sand trays, art tools, and board games.
- Physical Integration: A swing, ladder, and bop bag. These tools support grounding, self-regulation, and coregulation, helping to integrate the left and right hemispheres of the brain for better sensory processing.
Confidentiality & Trust
For therapy to be effective, the playroom must be a “private space” where your child feels safe to open up. This requires dropping parental expectations of a “full report” after every session.
When a child knows their play is private, they feel the power within themselves to meet challenges at their own pace and truly become the hero of their own story.
The Journey for Parents
Healing is not a linear process; it happens in swirls and circular spirals. It is common for behaviors to “get worse” before they get better as we dive into deeper challenges.
Because the work of the parent is just as important as the work of the child, I encourage parents
to:
- Connect through play at home to reinforce new skills.
- Participate in family therapy or their own individual therapy to develop the skills of
attunement and resonance. - Practice patience as the psyche and body move toward growth.
