Thoughts
Feelings
Actions
Areas of Expertise
I specialize in working with children and adults who may be struggling with life adjustments, anxiety, depression or other mood concerns, behavioral issues, attachment, and trauma.
I work with children individually and with the caregivers, as a child's primary context is within the family.
With adults, I primarily work individually. I do not provide couples or marital therapy, but I am more than happy to refer you to a qualified provider.
Play Therapy
I am a Registered Play Therapist™ and love to utilize play therapy strategies with children and adults alike. Play therapy is an evidence-based therapy which utilizes toys, games, and arts activities to explore a child's world, problems, and solutions.
Tele-Play Therapy is different in that we don't have a designated room, so I need the children I work with to have a variety of their favorite toys (dolls or action figures, puppets, Play-doh, etc.), art supplies (crayons or markers, paper, scissors and tape/glue, empty toilet paper rolls, etc.), and basic games such as UNO or a deck of cards handy to make our sessions more fun and useful. Via tele-play therapy, your child will also have access to my web-based play therapy room as well.
Don't be fooled, though--many play therapy strategies can be adjusted and be equally powerful for adults, or for adults working on inner-child concerns. Play therapy isn't "just for kids."
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
I am an EMDR Certified Therapist. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy practice with powerful effects to combat traumatic memories, intrusive thoughts, depressed mood, intense anxiety, and even things like performance anxiety. Initially studied for its usefulness in treating trauma, researchers quickly discovered its effectiveness with a wide variety of clinical issues.
EMDR can be provided online as well. EMDR requires a thorough intake procedure, which also includes exploring negative core beliefs, establishing healthy resourcing (coping) strategies, and processing of traumatic content. EMDR is not a "talk therapy" per se--it is an active reprocessing of memories where I will lead you through a series of eye movements or self-administered tapping to clear out the trauma.
EMDR is an effective treatment for children and adults.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based therapeutic modality that aims to address how our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact with one another. By recognizing, challenging and replacing negative thoughts, we can move forward to more healthy thoughts or beliefs, which then improve mood and behaviors. As we work to establish healthy coping strategies, we can alleviate mood disturbances, which can lead to more healthy thoughts and actions. We can work together to explore conflict resolution, assertive communication, and implementation of healthy boundaries in efforts to improve behaviors, which again directly impact our thoughts and feelings about ourselves and the world around us. It's all tied together.
CBT is appropriate for children (aged around 8 and up) through adults.