Services for Children

Like adults, children can suffer from a number of different conditions including depression, anxiety and trauma. Experiences that may be particularly difficult for children and lead to professional help tend to revolve around home or school. Sometimes a developmental issue, such as a learning disability, ADHD, or autism, may complicate the picture, or be at the root of the problem. Other issues could be situational, and may arise unexpectedly. Some examples follow.

Separation and loss
School difficulties including school adjustment, ADHD and learning
Adjustment at home
Child abuse
Foster care
Adoption
Anxiety
Depression
Situational
Autism and other developmental concerns

It is important for all to be mindful of developmental needs, and be sure they are met while working on current emotional struggles. Involvement of a therapist to assist in coordination of care at school and at home, may be the best and most effective way to proceed.

School

Refusal to go to school, unacceptable behavior in school, or learning issues can be difficult to resolve. These situations could arise from attention issues, a learning disability, hyperactivity, or peer problems, perhaps involving bullying or difficulty making friends. The first question is always Why, - why is the child doing the problematic things? I help parents look into causes and solutions, as well as providing direct help to the child. It is important for all interested parties, including teacher, parents, child and therapist to work toward together to put the child on the path of comfort and success again.

Home

Parental separation or divorce can cause children to struggle with deep sadness, as they realize they their family life is changed forever. Other situations such as loss of a loved one, or loss of of a pet, sibling rivalry, move to another home and the need to make new friends, can cause children to flounder. Whatever the issue, if your child is struggling with something, please feel free to call. We can assess the situation and decide how to best approach the the problem.

Situations that arise fairly frequently include the following.

Treatment: Let's Make a Plan

Always, the first step is to assess the situation, and develop a plan to resolve the issue. My treatment of children involves therapy in three areas and I always offer all three.

Talk Therapy
Play Therapy
Sand Play

Talking things through

Talking through things together is always important. I learn to know the children and their parents. Equally important, the children and their parents benefit from talking together openly in a safe environment.

Children need to learn in school, and their learning environment at school must meet their individual needs. Parents may want to discuss ways of working with the school to develop an appropriate educational plan, whether that be a formal IEP, Building Accommodations Plan, or mutually agreed upon changes.

But children need to learn so much more. They need to learn to be cooperative and responsible, to follow directions, and accept authority. They also need to learn to advocate for themselves and to develop rewarding relationships with others.

When they lose their way and are having a little difficulty, therapy offers a path for them to develop these important life skills, so that they find success in school, at home, and and in their relationships

Play Therapy

Sometimes children have big feelings, and do not have a comfortable way of explaining them - or even of understanding themselves. At these times, it may be most effective to work with children non-verbally through imaginative play, allowing them freedom and self-direction. Through the process of play therapy, in an atmosphere of trust, children learn to understand more about themselves, and then to understand, manage, and communicate their concerns and worries, struggles and successes.

Sand Play

As in play therapy, children do not have to figure out how to explain their concerns and worries in spoken language, when they use sand. Rather, through the use of miniatures, they create a world in the sand, which helps them understand themselves, and also provides a different mode of communication. Through symbol and metaphor, or sometimes in terms of their personal life experience, they share their thoughts and feelings. Sand Play is a healing activity, in itself, and boosts self esteem, enhances awareness of being fully accepted and understood, and reveals to the child as well as to me , the amazing inner artist I get to know.