If you child is demonstrating unwanted behaviors, the entire family is impacted.

It takes courage and wisdom to reach out for support and accept guidance from others. As a loving and skilled parent you may find yourself feeling lost, blamed, and disempowered when your child has behavioral or emotional difficulties. Some problems come out of nowhere, while others are the result of generations of difficult genetics or unhealthy patterns. Sometimes it is a single incident that your child has experienced.

Common reasons for seeking therapy include:

• Divorce
• Parent-child conflict
• Problems between siblings
• Domestic violence
• Unexpected or traumatic loss of a family member

Positive outcomes may include:

• Healthy boundaries
• Communicating more effectively 
• Lowering conflict within the family
• Feeling more connected with each other
• Having compassion,  empathy, and understanding

My approach to working with parents and their children includes parenting strategies and family therapy.

Parenting Strategies 

Education with ways to interact with your child during emotional outbursts, increasing positive interactions.

Family Therapy

Using Theraplay activities to assess for secure attachment, current relationship dynamics, and teach new ways to interact that will increase wanted behaviors. We will play, learn new ways of making requests, stating boundaries and consequences, and have fun, which means laughter!

First Session

If you are seeking therapy for your child, the first session will be with the caregivers to gain an understanding of the child’s experiences and the current challenges you are experiencing in the family. Depending on the situation, during the first session, I will offer a few parenting strategies to try at home. Subsequent therapy sessions will include your child with his/her caregivers.

Depending on the age of your child, I may request to see them individually. As you child's therapist, my goal is to offer a confidential, non-judgmental safe space to share experiences, feel heard, and find solutions to issues.**

**Initial collaboration is desired with the parent/guardian, however sessions are held one-on-one with the child/teen. This boundary has a positve impact on your child to be heard and have someone understand their perspective. If a risk or concern is disclosed in session (i.e. strong motivation for suicidal behavior), that information is shared to keep your child safe.