Children

While the same basic therapeutic principles apply to children as to adults, the means of therapy tend to look different.  Play, rather than conversation, is a primary means of communication for children.  Given space and time, a child is able to express the many underlying and unknown aspects of her experience, which can be overwhelming and disturbing.  Often, what might be seen as adverse behavior is actually the child's best efforts (unconscious efforts) at communication.  In therapy, these underlying experiences can emerge in an environment where the therapist is able to tolerate them, to provide attention, and to respond in an empathic way, thereby helping the child to process this disruptive experience as well as bringing a new perspective to the child's life.  Over time, these accumulated experiences can lead to greater internal stability and freer expression of emotion, as well as fostering more constructive ways of living life. 

I also believe that parents (or caregivers) are integral to both the emotional and psychological wellbeing of children and the success of the therapeutic process, and therefore am committed to providing parenting support alongside the individual treatment of a child.