Kat de los Santos (She/her)

I can help caregivers and youth build stronger attachments and relationships, especially after trauma or separations. Building a bond between child and caregiver can be done through dyadic sessions and play therapy for younger children.

I have much experience treating youth (children and teens) and families who have experienced trauma in their lives and are suffering with symptoms of posttraumatic stress, adjustment disorders, reactive attachment disorder, and other trauma-related disorders. My specialty is working with youth and young adults utilizing child-centered play, TF-CBT, and CPT. I have worked with people who have experienced many different types of trauma, including developmental and complex trauma.

I have worked with youth and young adults who have thoughts and behaviors of self-harm as well as thoughts and behaviors of suicide. I mostly utilize Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy but tailor it to meet the individual needs of the client.

I utilize Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for working with children/teens (ages 5-18) and their caregivers who have experienced any type of trauma including developmental trauma and complex trauma. For adults, I utilize Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for PTSD and Cognitive Processing Therapy, which is similar to TF-CBT but adapted for adults.

I utilize child-centered play therapy, cognitive-behavioral play therapy, and attachment based therapy with children (ages 2+) and their caregivers to help children identify, express, and regulate their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Research tells us that children process, express, and heal most effectively within the realm of play.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is my foundational approach to therapy in which we explore thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and how they are connected. Interventions from different approaches such as trauma therapy, play therapy, sand tray, art, and others are utilized to best fit the client and their needs.