Play Therapy

I have worked with children ages 5 and up for over 20 years and have learned to adapt play therapy to the different developmental ages. Younger children typically act their feelings out through play. Older children usually combine play and talk therapy to express themselves. I am able to adapt the sessions to each child in order to make the session appropriate to their age and personality. Additionally, I have attended multiple play therapy trainings in order to further enhance my skills.

As a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor who works via telehealth, I love being able to combine my Child-Centered approach with Digital Play Therapy. Using tools like the Virtual Sandtray App, whiteboards, Minecraft, Roblox, and digital versions of traditional board games I can bring the play therapy office to my clients, allowing them the power to speak in the language of play.

I use play therapy techniques to help youth learn self-trust, self-compassion, and process and heal from difficult life experiences. I love developing a relationship built on mutual respect and trust with my kiddo clients, and helping them learn that they are inherently strong and resilient.

Through play therapy, children and youth are able to explore and express thoughts, feelings, and experiences that they have not yet developed the language skills necessary. Through play therapy, we are able to interact on a level that children and youth understand and respond to, leading to healing and growth.

Play is the universal language of children. I typically utilize Child-Centered Play Therapy which helps kids process a variety issues from anxiety, traumatic experiences, social difficulties, life changes & many more issues. Online child play therapy uses use expressive toys, drawing items, and age appropriate online games to help in the therapeutic process. I will build trust, and help with social and emotional regulation and improving communication skills.

I utilize a child centered play therapy approach when working with children. Play therapy has helped many children and families that have come in with a variety of presenting problems. Children communicate through play! I pull from Theraplay, CBPT, and PCIT modalities and do what best fits the child’s needs. Games utilized in session could be board games, cards, puzzles, along with arts and crafts, puppets, and other toys.

Play is the language of childhood. Play is used by children to explore their world and find meaning and understanding of the greater, more complex things happening around them. I utilize many forms of creative play to allow the child to use their imagination to play out how they are feeling inside, and together we work to find words to describe these feelings and develop skills to help regulate their emotions thereafter.

I am trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy which is an evidenced based treatment for children 2-7 years exhibiting behavioral challenges. Phase one of PCIT focuses on increasing parent and child attachment by teaching parents a set of therapeutic play skills. Phase two focuses on teaching parents consistent and appropriate ways to manage challenging behaviors. My role in PCIT is acting as a "live coach" to increase parent's use of the PCIT skill set during sessions.

Children learn through play. By allowing them to playout their experiences in a safe, nurturing environment, children process and heal from traumatic experiences. Sandtray therapy (which is also used with teens and adults) allows children to make sense of their world through directive and non-directive means. Using the Nurtured Heart Approach during sessions also allows dysregulated children the space and control to help monitor and manage their own behaviors. Though not a registered play therapist, I have taken courses in graduate school and have seven years of continuing education and experience working primarily with children in the school setting.

GAMING THERAPY, also known as video game therapy, is a form of therapy that uses video games as a tool to address various mental health issues. It involves playing video games that are specifically designed to promote mental and emotional well-being and to help individuals overcome a range of issues.

I am a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S) with extensive experience and training in providing play therapy and supervising play therapists. I attended the University of North Texas for graduate school where I was able to learn play therapy from the true experts. I have been providing play therapy since 2012.

As a Certified Play Therapist I can help your child find healthy ways of coping with difficult life circumstances. Children don’t always have the capacity to express difficult emotions. Play is a child’s first language. Through play we are able to find healing. Children find comfort in the play room and learn ways of expressing emotions. Play Therapy is the preferred form of therapy for children under the age of 12. Sand tray is my favorite part of play therapy and is utilized with all ages.

Play therapy is a form of therapy used primarily for children. That’s because children may not be able to process their own emotions or articulate problems to parents or other adults. I've been working with play therapy since 2016 when made aware of the benefits at the University of Southern California (USC).

I have extensive play therapy training. With over 120 hours of continuing education and over 35 hours of supervision in play therapy, I am close to attaining the Registered Play Therapist credential. I have received training in Child Centered Play Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy, Gestalt Play Therapy, and play therapy based in Attachment Theory.

For children, it might seems as though talking comes much too naturally. However, finding the words they need to say isn’t as easy during this time. Our belief as play therapists is that a child’s language is play and toys are children’s words. Toys are carefully selected for play therapy for children to play with so the therapist can search for themes and engage in play with the child which is their natural form of self-expression. Play therapy is more than just playing.

Children learn through play. By allowing them to playout their experiences in a safe, nurturing environment, children process and heal from traumatic experiences. Sandtray therapy (which is also used with teens and adults) allows children to make sense of their world through directive and non-directive means. Using the Nurtured Heart Approach during sessions also allows dysregulated children the space and control to help monitor and manage their own behaviors. Though not a registered play therapist, I have taken courses in graduate school and have seven years of continuing education and experience working primarily with children in the school setting.

I am a Registered Play Therapist and am constantly seeking out continuing education opportunities to learn more about how to better help the children I work with.

I am skilled with the ability to help the most challenging of children with research-supported non-directive Play Therapy, in which the child takes the lead in the session healing at their needed pace, while I closely follow and examine his or her play. I believe that children know what they need to work on and that their play will take them to where they need to go for healing. I have successfully worked with children since 2001.