children & adolescents
handcrafted healing for
Play is the language of children and toys are their words...
Have there been a series of painful experiences that you notice your child struggling to navigate? Has your child experienced a traumatic event and you're looking for support? Did this terrible thing upend your lives as you know them, or has your child continued on as if nothing ever happened? I'm here to help.
I don't believe that trauma creates resilience within us, but rather, it reveals it. Kids and teens are incredibly adaptive, but their brains are still developing, and they often need the support of a professional to make sense of their experience. I help them do this through creative, evidence-based approaches.
Curious about what you and your child can expect working with me?
For one thing, I get on their level. Quite literally. I often get on the floor to incorporate play and art techniques into our sessions to creatively explore their path towards healing. So, if your child comes out of a session and says something like "we played games!" or "we drew pictures!", there is always a deeper, intentional meaning behind our time using these mediums.
It is important to understand that I respect the agency of all my clients—whether they are 5 or 15. Therefore, I establish clear roles in the therapeutic relationship. I let kids and teens know that they are in charge of where we go; I just offer different routes on how to get there.
As a parent, you can anticipate that I will want to include you in the process, as you know your child best. Your participation in their healing will assist the overall effectiveness of the work we do together. Together, we will decide the frequency and structure of sessions (e.g., weekly appointments, individual vs. family sessions) as well as the treatment goals. I also request an understanding that your child is afforded privacy and confidentiality, with exceptions for cases of abuse, self-harm, or threats to others.
As a caregiver, what would you give to wave a magic wand to help your child heal from the lasting impact of this painful experience?
Your child deserves support that is effective and transformational. My recommendation is typically a combination of various evidence-based therapies (backed by research). My primary specialization is addressing trauma reactions through EMDR; however, we may determine through assessment and collaboration that other types of therapy are a better fit for your child.
EMDR has effectively demonstrated the remarkable capabilities of the human brain. I am honored to be a part of this process to empower your child to return to normal activities. EMDR is an 8-phase, non-traditional talk therapy modality that helps align what we know is true (the event is over) with what we feel is true (I’m still in danger/unloved, etc.) through bilateral stimulation (eye movement, tactile, or sound).
What therapy modalities are offered to my child?
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Handcrafted healing for teens…
Are you a teen who has gone through something big or a bunch of little things and looking to talk to someone besides Mom, Dad, or a friend? Are you getting older and understanding the world a little differently now, and it seems more confusing? I get it. Sometimes trauma is what happens to us, and sometimes it's what doesn't happen—I'm here to help.
Are you here because you asked for help or because your parents thought this was a good idea? I think it's important that you work with someone who actually respects you and isn't just another random adult in your life telling you what to do. You won't get that from me. Teens are some of my favorite people on the planet because you guys are just so honest, and I genuinely appreciate your view of the world (fr fr). One thing to understand is that I don't even give advice (unless it involves keeping you safe), but I will explore options with you, so YOU can decide what is best for YOU.
What can you expect in our sessions?
Well, sessions can be anywhere from an hour to 90 minutes, depending on the type of work we are doing together. It's also possible that we could determine it's better for you to feel better faster by doing a therapy intensive, which could be around 3 hours (with lots of breaks!).
I enjoy doing creative things with clients like painting, drawing, music, raps, spoken word, and poetry—if any of these are your thing, great! If not, no biggie. I also encourage you to invite me into your world to show me what's important to you and see if there's a way for us to use that in the work we do together.