An Introduction To Me, My Blog, and A Resource For Coping Skills

Hello Everyone!

I would love to get started with an introduction about myself and my experience. Firstly, I'd like to say that the most important part of therapy is the relationship you build with your therapist. What that means is different for everyone. I encourage you to find what is best for you (or your child). A therapist is a partner in your healing journey. You need to be able to trust that the person you take along is someone you are comfortable working with.

That being said, I feel I do have a great deal to offer you as your therapist.

In my work with children, I have over 10 years of experience. This includes volunteering and eventually working at a children's hospital with infants, school-age children, and teenagers. I worked closely with Child Life and learned ways to help children and families in what can be the most difficult times of their lives. I have worked in summer camps and tour programs learning about how children learn in a hands-on way. I have worked in childcare as a nanny where I learned about parenting skills and discipline. My internships were both in school settings to help me understand where some children struggle the most and what systems are helping - and sometimes hindering - their learning and development. I have worked with evaluation agencies helping children and families get the special services they need to thrive. I have over 100 continuing education credits towards becoming a Registered Play Therapist that include working with trauma, anxiety, and working closely with parents.

My experience and education has taught me that you, the parent, are the expert on your child. That's why I work closely with you to make sure that the skills your child learns in therapy carry over. We can talk about what comes up for you in difficult parenting situations and work on problem-solving together to figure out what strategies work for your unique family.

In my work with adults, I think of us as partners on your journey. I like to bring a mindful and creative approach to your therapy. In this way, we can find the best method to introduce useful skills and healthy coping mechanisms. We can work with understanding your concerns and how your past might be influencing your current functioning. I utilize Cognitive-Behavioral and Person-Centered approaches in my practice. However, the art, sand, and even games in my room aren't just for children! You have every right to get out of your every-day routine to explore how your creativity can help you heal.

If you have further questions about me, my experience, or how to find out if we would be a good fit, please fee free to contact me via my website, email, or phone. I'd love to talk more about all of this together.

My goal for this blog is to post about resources that I am already utilizing in session or giving to parents and clients alike. Consider this your reference for coping skills or parenting techniques. Now the best way to utilize some of these skills is with individualized instruction. I'll do my best to provide examples, but in order to get the most customized use, we will discuss it in session. Additionally, you may find that some skills will work for you or your family while others don't. That is normal! We're all different and our solutions are not one-size-fits-all.

Again, I'm always available for questions or concerns. If you see something here that you're curious about how to make work for you, let me know! If you don't see something here that you know we've discussed or that you've heard about before, let me know!

Also, for more in-depth creative activities, please feel free to check out my Wordpress Blog. This is a blog that I created years ago that is aimed at therapists to share resources for play-based activities. Check it out HERE.

I hope this helps to provide some background on me and the purpose of this blog. New posts will be coming soon!