Young Children and Tweens
Child-Centered Play Therapy
The play therapist works one-on-one with the child/adolescent utilizing play interventions. The therapist will begin play therapy with a parent consultation in which the parent will be asked questions about their child/adolescent, including early development, current development, and presenting concerns. The play therapist will have follow-up parent consultations with parents as needed.
Young Children: Children 2.5-8 years old have difficulty talking about their problems. Play therapy is to children what talk-therapy is to adults. Play therapy utilizes play, children’s natural and developmentally appropriate medium of expression, to help them express their feelings, experiences, and beliefs more easily through toys than through words. Play therapists often use the phrase, “Toys are the child’s words, play is their language.”
Play and Activity Therapy
Tweens: 8-11 or 12 years old’s, are in that in-between and confusing age (for themselves and their caregivers) of not yet teenagers and too mature for ‘baby’ activities. I have received training in various expressive arts, including sandtray therapy, and experiential activities. These allow tweens to move forward to healthier coping skills and relationships.