Children
How do you know if your child needs therapy? There are many reasons that a child may come to therapy – abuse or trauma, divorce or separation of their parents, difficulties getting along with their peers, school difficulties, adjustment to new siblings, adoption, experiences of illness in the family, their own illness. It is important to know the signs of distress in children, because they will most often let you know something needs attention through their behavior. Changes in behavior to notice include:

Parents
I work collaboratively with parents whose children are being seen by me in therapy, and also am available to work with parents who want support or help with parenting without therapy for their child.  I have facilitated parenting groups and encourage parents in an empowered style of parenting.

Play Therapy
Play is the natural language of children.  While adults may be adept at talking about and talking through their problems, children’s difficulties are often best understood through the metaphor of play. The solutions to conflict are also most often found through play, in the presence of a trained professional. I offer children the opportunity of play through Sandplay, games, art materials such as clay, pens, chalk and paint, and dramatic play with puppets and dolls.

Sandplay Therapy
Through use of the material of sand and water, and the addition of miniature figures and elements from the natural world – rocks, shells, feathers, for example – one is invited to create a world in the sandtray. Sandplay was first developed by Dora Kalff, who was influenced by the work of Carl Jung. Dora believed in creating what she called “a free and protected space” for children and adults to explore their inner world, and through that exploration to find healing and the individuation of the Self.
I have had extensive training in Sandplay therapy at JFK University, and am a associate member of the Sandplay Therapists of America. I find Sandplay to be an inspiring intervention with children.