I have a playful spirit and greatly enjoy working with children. Young children (roughly three to eight) often express what they are feeling through play, so I give them the opportunity with a variety of toys and art supplies. Older children (roughly nine to thirteen) tend to play cards or board games while we talk about their lives. That way, they don’t feel put on the spot. Often I resond to the play with storytelling, reflecting their feelings and other play themes back to them in metaphor. Children can work out their issues quickly in these creative and unconscious ways—without the usually insurmountable burden of discussing issues head on.

With younger children and less-verbal older children, I involve the parents. Because children are not always accurate reporters of events, I ask the parents to tell me what's happening at home and at school. I also give parents considerable support and help them intervene directly with their children. When parents are divorced, I aim to involve both parents in the treatment. With older adolescents and more-verbal school-age children, parents don’t need to be quite as involved in the treatment.

Parenting is challenging, even when things are going well. When your child is struggling, it can be overwhelming. Bringing a child in for therapy may feel scary. Maybe you fear that you have failed in some way and blame yourself. I’ll help you generate compassion for yourself as a parent. Together, we’ll see how you can parent your child more effectively. It takes courage to bring your child to see a professional, and I applaud you for it.