Play Therapy

PCIT incorporates principles of play therapy that are taught to parents so they can provide daily play intervention and become their child's own therapeutic specialist.

I use play therapy for children, teenagers, and couples therapy, in order to create healthy, positive, nurturing experience for clients’ growth.

I enjoy using play and art therapy techniques with adults and children alike. Non-traditional techniques help to give you a new perspective and some distance from the problems. This kind of therapy also helps with trauma and other experiences that are difficult to talk openly about. This is a non-structured approach that promotes a feeling of freedom and calm. It is one of the best evidence-based treatments for children's mental health issues.

Trained in play therapy for management of childhood anxiety, mood disorders and ADHD. Therapy includes game play, imaginative play and expressive art techniques.

Play therapy allows kids to receive the help they need to cope with life-altering trauma, all through the power of play. Just as adults enjoy a conversation in their native language, children can better relate to trauma therapy techniques using their first language – “Play.”

Its been said that “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” Play therapy is a form of psychological treatment that can involve playing with toys, role-playing, creation of art and games. Therapists observe someone during play to gain insights about their behavior. The central idea to play therapy is that people use play to communicate unconscious conflicts and feelings through displacement with the therapist.

While working with children I utilize play therapy where they learn to manage their feelings and emotions as well as social skills. In 2016, I developed a play intervention program for children with autism and developmental disabilities.

I enjoy using play and art therapy techniques with adults and children alike. Non-traditional techniques help to give you a new perspective and some distance from the problems. This kind of therapy also helps with trauma and other experiences that are difficult to talk openly about. This is a non-structured approach that promotes a feeling of freedom and calm. It is one of the best evidence-based treatments for children's mental health issues.

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 video games, board games, and pop-culture to connect and teach. I set up problem solving scenarios and use games to help promote expression.

I am experienced and trained in offering Play Therapy from renowned PT specialists. Play Therapy provides a dynamic way to interact with children in their native language of play to increase their emotional equilibrium and restore developmental processes. I am experienced helping children recover from grief, trauma, divorce and other difficulties- and am supervised by an experienced RPT-S (Registered Play Therapy Supervisor). I welcome working with your child and family.

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.

I have received specialized training in Synergetic Play Therapy and meet regularly with an SPT consultant.

Kids learn and express themselves best through play and art. As I move towards becoming a Certified Play Therapist, I am thrilled to see my clients empowered by the ability to get the big feelings out and feel stronger. Parents often tell me how appreciative they are to understand better what their child is feeling and thinking.

I have been trained in non-directive and semi-structured child-centered play therapy, sand tray therapy and mindfulness with kids combined with play therapy. I completed a two-year post-master's internship in play therapy and early childhood mental health in 2006. I have a deep commitment to working with children and adolescents of all ages and have been trained to work with children and young people ages birth to 18.

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 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.