Kids (ages 2-10)

I am a trained level 1 Theraplay therapist, working towards level 2 certification. Theraplay is an attachment based technique for parents and children, the  Theraplay Institute is located in Chicago, IL (feel free to visit theraplayinstitute.org for more information about theraplay).

Theraplay incorporates play based techniques for parents and children in order to address behavior difficulties, attention and focusing difficulties, trauma, adoption and many others. This is an active engagement between parents and kids and can be utilized for kids as young as infants up through the teenage years. This type of therapy can be helpful for most kids, but particularly helpful for those who are experiencing significant symptoms.

I am also trained in DDP Level 1 and 2, Development Didactic Psychotherapy, and was trained by the founder of this theory Daniel Hughes. This type of therapy melds well with Theraplay and is extremely useful for clients who are in their childhood- adolescent years. This type of therapy can be utilized individually or within family counseling scenarios.

In young children this looks like incorporating some talk therapy into session, mainly by the therapist and sometimes the parent in order to continue to look at building a positive and healthy attachment between parent and child.

Play therapy is another therapeutic modality that I incorporate and utilize with children. Depending on the situation and what parents and therapist decide as best approach, I will utilize play therapy approaches with children. This could be individually with the child or with parent present, it will depend on the situation and what we decide the intervention to include.

In play therapy I utilize puppets and stuffed animals for story telling, art therapy, drawing and painting, play dough for modeling, and other intentions that are both more and less directive in order to help children maintain comfort in therapy and look toward expression of their feelings through play.