Children and Adolescents

This is what therapy looks like. As represented by a 9 year old artist (and client).

How do we explain death to a four year old? How will a nine year old make sense of their parents’ divorce? How do we talk to an 11 year old about adoption? How do we communicate with a 13 year old who is struggling academically, angry and withdrawn? How do we help a 17 year old express their emotions more effectively and cope with urges to engage in high-risk behaviors?  I have specialized training treating children and adolescents, and am able to combine my natural playful creativity with a stance that can be at once accepting and challenging. I also understand what adaptive development looks like, and how to intervene when necessary. My approach involves working with parents and families to generalize the skills we learn and practice in therapy to other settings.

I practice play therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and relational therapy with children and teenagers. I have specialized training and experience with the following issues:

-Loss, grief or bereavement
- Trauma
- Anxiety
- Depression
- School difficulties
- Anger
- Behavioral problems
- Parental separation or divorce
- Separation anxiety
- Adoption
- Life transitions
- Sexuality
- Gender development
- Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Trans, Queer (LGBTQ)-related questioning and development
- Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder 
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.