Child Therapy:
I conduct Child-Centered Play Therapy with children under 12. Depending on the maturity level of the child, I may also use worksheets designed specifically to target their particular anxiety, and/or I may use reciprocal story-telling (symbolism) to help them choose and practice more functional coping mechanisms.
In Child-Centered Play Therapy, children choose their own activity. I encourage open-ended creative play during which many of their thoughts/beliefs/anxieties manifest. Using language that children understand, I narrate what they are doing and label the emotion to increase emotional vocabulary, and I normalize and validate the emotion to reduce shame/guilt. Once the emotion has been validated and anxiety is decreased, the child is more open to accepting balanced input from an adult without viewing it as a “lecture, instruction, or correcting.”
When working with children, adolescents, and teens, I work closely with the parents/caretakers to coordinate treatment and to solidify each step of healing along the way.
I conduct Child-Centered Play Therapy with children under 12. Depending on the maturity level of the child, I may also use worksheets designed specifically to target their particular anxiety, and/or I may use reciprocal story-telling (symbolism) to help them choose and practice more functional coping mechanisms.
In Child-Centered Play Therapy, children choose their own activity. I encourage open-ended creative play during which many of their thoughts/beliefs/anxieties manifest. Using language that children understand, I narrate what they are doing and label the emotion to increase emotional vocabulary, and I normalize and validate the emotion to reduce shame/guilt. Once the emotion has been validated and anxiety is decreased, the child is more open to accepting balanced input from an adult without viewing it as a “lecture, instruction, or correcting.”
When working with children, adolescents, and teens, I work closely with the parents/caretakers to coordinate treatment and to solidify each step of healing along the way.
Adolescent and Teen Therapy: In order to communicate anger, frustration, anxiety, and confusion, teens and tweens tend to show particular behaviors such as eating problems, academic problems, social phobias, conduct problems (stealing, reckless behavior, destruction of property), risk-taking, frequent arguing, isolation, self injury (cutting, biting self, pinching self), and rebellion - to name a few. I use various interventions and techniques to help teens and tweens safely explore their difficult feelings. Through a variety of methods tailored to their situation and personality, I help them develop a stronger sense of self and autonomy. When working with children, adolescents, and teens, I work closely with the parents/caretakers to coordinate treatment and to solidify each step of healing along the way. For more detailed information on how teens think, see article "The Teen Brain" at chpsychotherapist.blogspot.com. |
Couples Counseling:
Heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, interracial, married, unmarried, re-married, living together, separated: The Gottman method has proven effective for all couples, regardless of their demographics. I perform a detailed assessment to define core problems inherent in the relationship. I guide the couple through steps that greatly improve communication, fondness and admiration for each other, and deeper acceptance and understanding of each other. As this happens, it reduces stress, anger, resentment, and insecurity.
Heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, interracial, married, unmarried, re-married, living together, separated: The Gottman method has proven effective for all couples, regardless of their demographics. I perform a detailed assessment to define core problems inherent in the relationship. I guide the couple through steps that greatly improve communication, fondness and admiration for each other, and deeper acceptance and understanding of each other. As this happens, it reduces stress, anger, resentment, and insecurity.
Family Counseling:
(coming soon)
(coming soon)