Child Issues

If being a parent is difficult, being a kid is near impossible today. I am passionate about working with children and adolescents in close collaboration with parents/care-givers to assist in a myriad of issues, including anxiety, depression, school avoidance, bullying, self-esteem, divorce, co-parenting, and trauma. I utilize a unique combination of interactive play therapy, relational therapy, and EMDR (if appropriate) in order to give your child the most effective therapy experience.

Whether your child/teen is experiencing anxiety, disruptive behaviors, difficulties in school, or another concern, or you would like some new positive parenting strategies, I am here to support your family's growth. When working with children, I collaborate closely with their parents and caregivers in order to practice new skills outside of therapy.

I work with children 0-5 years old using play based models. I work closely with the parent to help the understand age appropriate and developmental concerns. I help the parents with behavior modification and how to handle negative behaviors. I use different approaches that help your child respond better to you.

I have years of experience working with children in a variety of contexts. I completed a research thesis about parent-infant relationships and learning, spent years working in early education and childcare, and completed clinical hours in a local school. I enjoy my work with children and their parents in the therapeutic space - contextualizing behavior within a developmental framework and supporting parents in their relationships with their children.

I utilize play therapy and sand tray therapy to create a comfortable and fun environment where children are able to express and explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences without facing the pressure of needing to understand or verbalize these things. With limited life experience and verbal repertoires, traditional talk therapy is difficult and frustrating for children.

Specialized strategies for common childhood disorders including attention issues, attachment problems, behavioral disorders, learning disorders, autism spectrum diagnoses, and feeding or elimination issues.

Over 15 years of experience working with a variety of childhood concerns in the areas of depression and anxiety, anger management, social skills, neurodivergent, foster care and adoptions experience, as well as grief and loss. I like to use art therapy, play therapy, strength-based, cognitive behavioral, attachment, and systems models when working with children.

I spent eight years as a therapist and then Assistant Director of Clinical Services at the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center working with children and non-offending caregivers that experienced neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or witnessed a violent crime and supervising other therapists. I have extensive training and experience in child development, assessment of children, parenting, play therapy, TF-CBT, and EMDR. I am a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor.

We see children ages 5 and up. We also see adolescents and teenagers. Our therapists, Shelby Jo and Laura are experienced with children 5 + and have a unique ability to really build rapport with the children they work with. We have seen a lot of positive growth in our past younger clients. Sara also enjoys working with ages 11 + and she also takes Anthem and United Healthcare. We'd love to work closely with you to help your child grow and work through difficult issues that may be impacting them.

Childhood is a period of rapid growth and change. Their lives are often in the hands of their parents, which means that life transitions, move, and family dynamics may happen and bring up complex feelings and fear. As a child therapist, my primary goal is to create a safe space for children to explore the world that is moving around them and help them find their unique place in the chaos. My balance of play and talk will help them develop productive ways to express the complex emotions of life.

I have over 250 hours of play therapy training to work with children between the ages of 4 and 12. Within this group, play is often the best language used to help with expression of their inner worlds, thoughts and feelings.

Over a decade of experience caring for children in non-clinical settings, graduate level courses in clinical treatment of children, and over a year of supervised clinical experience working with children with special needs and severe emotional disturbance.

Children are faced with the task of forming their identity and understanding their place in the world- they grapple with questions of meaning, purpose, and their own existence, which can lead to existential anxiety or confusion. Additionally, children often confront the reality of impermanence and the awareness of their mortality, which can be overwhelming. I help support students with unconditional positive regard as they navigate through the big changes they experience.

I provide play therapy to children to help them develop healthy coping skills that will carry them out through life. I provide a trauma informed safe space that is tailored to their developmental stage. I help children work through issues of loss, divorce, school issues, family issues, abuse and trauma, as well as other life challenges. I provide parent coaching to empower parents to be apart of their child's healing journey.

Children’s therapy looks different from adults or adolescents because typically, children are better able to express themselves through their play and art than just through words. Using these methods, I will help your child express and understand their feelings and problems.

Child/Play Therapy helps children to improve communication and interpersonal skills. It focuses on a child's interests and encourages interaction based on the child's favorite activities. Our professionals, collaborate to help children deal with emotional trauma, anxiety, grief, behavioral problems, neurological conditions and mental illness.