Early Childhood Therapy

Play is a natural instinct of young children.  It is the language through which children express their thoughts, feelings, and experiences; to explore, learn, and understand the world around them. 

PLAY THERAPY

Play therapy provides a unique environment where children are given the opportunity to increase self-awareness and self-confidence, understand their thoughts and feelings, become more resilient and adaptable, learn to manage big emotions in healthy ways, develop age-appropriate coping skills, and adjust to life events and transitions.  My to approach to play therapy is rooted in psychodynamic and child-centered principles, where children are encouraged to lead the play, providing them with the opportunity to actively work on what they feel is important.   I observe and reflect on the themes that emerge in child-directed play to explore the unconscious thoughts that may be contributing to a young child’s behavior, and utilize these themes to guide the therapeutic work.  Young children inherently know that the playroom is a safe space where all emotions encouraged with unconditional acceptance. Over time, children’s social-emotional development is strengthened, they develop a better understanding of themselves, and age-appropriate ways of managing and expressing their entire range of emotions. 

CHILD-PARENT PLAY THERAPY

Play therapy sessions with young children under 5 years old are often dyadic, meaning both parent and child are present in the room.  Child-Parent Play Therapy is based in psychodynamic and attachment theories and follows a child-centered approach.  The goal is to support attachment and attunement, strengthen the parent-child relationship, and promote optimal social-emotional development for young children.  A space is created for both children and parents to develop tools together to co-regulate, and to learn how to experience and express emotions rather than becoming overwhelmed by them.  During this process, I explore, hold, and cherish the parent’s emotional experience of their child, without judgement or criticism.  Children learn that all emotions are acceptable, regardless of how challenging they may be.  Parents experience a sense of acceptance and validation.  The resulting co-construction of new behavior patterns supports long lasting, growth-promoting changes in the parent-child relationship. 

PARENT-CHILD INTERACTION THERAPY (PCIT)

PCIT is a structured treatment program that addresses challenging behaviors in young children, ages 2-6 years old. PCIT focuses on improving the quality of the parent-child relationship, while decreasing negative behavior patterns and increasing joy in parenting. PCIT is comprised of two phases that are designed to strike a balance between nurturance and appropriate limit setting. I observe parent-child interactions and use in-the-moment coaching to teach positive parenting skills and behavior management techniques. The goal is to create a supportive environment that decreases parental frustration and increases feelings of safety, security, and connection between parent and child.

PLAY-BASED DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPY

Play is essential to the development of young children.  Play-based developmental therapy is beneficial for children who do not yet have age-appropriate play skills, as well as for children who do not know how to play at all.  The goal is to teach children to use play as a means of communication, to create meaning, and to express their needs.  My approach begins with understanding each individual child’s developmental level, strengths, challenges, and current stage of play.  We work to develop the play skills necessary for learning, increase verbalizations, improve cooperative problem-solving strategies, reduce aggression, increase innovation, and increase imaginativeness.  Parents are involved every step of the way and are often included in the playroom. 

Play-based developmental therapy is appropriate for a wide range of children with developmental needs including, but not limited to, children with delays in one or more domain, global developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, neurobehavioral disorders, and developmental differences related to prematurity and/or medical complexities.

PLAY THERAPY FOR SELECTIVE MUTISM

For young children experiencing selective mutism, play therapy provides an environment that allows children to communicate comfortably in whichever manner they choose.  Rather than using behavioral modification techniques, I use a psychodynamic approach where the focus is on understanding the child and their mute behavior through play and symbolism, allowing them to express their inner experience and, over time, supporting alternate forms of coping and communicating, and no longer needing to remain silent.