What do we work on?
I wholeheartedly believe that it takes a village - of positive role models - to develop a child into a happy, successful adult. My practice with children and teens (from toddlers, all the way to college students), brings me so much joy. I cherish working with my young clients and fostering a healthy and positive relationship with them.
I use gentle methods to help build self confidence, release fears and phobias (of specific animals, visiting the dentist, flying in airplanes, test taking, etc), end bed wetting, learn and use appropriate self soothing techniques, and social/emotional skills that some children need extra time and practice with.
I have successfully worked with children as young as two and a half, teaching calming techniques that they learned and actively use on their own when they felt stressed. It is really amazing what even young children can accomplish with patient guidance!
I wholeheartedly believe that it takes a village - of positive role models - to develop a child into a happy, successful adult. My practice with children and teens (from toddlers, all the way to college students), brings me so much joy. I cherish working with my young clients and fostering a healthy and positive relationship with them.
I use gentle methods to help build self confidence, release fears and phobias (of specific animals, visiting the dentist, flying in airplanes, test taking, etc), end bed wetting, learn and use appropriate self soothing techniques, and social/emotional skills that some children need extra time and practice with.
I have successfully worked with children as young as two and a half, teaching calming techniques that they learned and actively use on their own when they felt stressed. It is really amazing what even young children can accomplish with patient guidance!
How are the approaches different with children?
Especially when working with children, sessions are relaxed and fun, including a lot of play and metaphor through stories. Because children naturally want to imitate others, carefully crafted stories work superbly to introduce and practice new ways of dealing with problems or coping with the stress of everyday life and during times of transition.
In a typical first session, we chat and get to know each other, to make sure everyone is comfortable. I always let children know what we will be doing, in terms they can understand, and answer any questions that come up from both the parent and the child. We then try out a method for a few minutes to make sure your child enjoys it and it works for them. For example, we could do a one minute visualization and come back out before exploring a longer story or scenario.
Parents are welcome to be a part of the introduction process, and typically, the child is ready (and prefers) to work one on one when we start the longer process. Sessions are more productive in this format, allowing children to let go of anything that has been bothering them, things that they may not yet be ready to share with their parent.
Safety and respecting parents' goals for the session are my utmost priorities. It is very important to chose someone you and your child feel comfortable with. I welcome any questions that you may have, and am always open to a quick meeting before working with you and your child.
Getting Started
Contact me to schedule a complimentary phone consultation, where we can discuss the needs of your child and how we can work together to accomplish your goals.