Given the right opportunity, children will show you what they need to grow and change. Flexibility, creativity and a sense of curiosity and wonder guide my work with children. This work is fluid and child-directed and can encompass: play therapy, art work, expressive or dramatic enactment, bibliotherapy, or simply talking about the intricacies of their day. Children are known for their capacity to learn and absorb new experiences. In my work with children, I get to witness their equally remarkable capacity to teach. Sometimes less encumbered by adult restraints and inhibition, children demonstrate, whether verbally or non-verbally, a diorama of their view of themselves, their position in the world, their relationship to themselves and to others. I can help them become more consciously aware of their feelings; gain acceptance of their feelings and an understanding of the conflict that arises when there are multiple feelings about one event or one person; help to normalize this conflict for them; educate, as well as learn from their own experience, about developmental transitions in their life; practice and help them to better communicate their needs, identify their own strengths and struggles, and to celebrate their individuality.
Common issues that bring children into therapy are: difficulties with peer interaction and social skills development; feelings of loneliness and not fitting in; issues with feeling competent and recognizing their unique gifts in a system that might not nurture these strengths; coping skills, expressing feelings and feelings management; family issues; anxiety and depression; self-esteem; behavioral issues that are effecting their happiness and success; problem-solving, prioritizing, and decision making; and learning to communicate their own needs while respecting the rights of others.
