It is essential that children coming to therapy, find themselves in a warm, safe environment. Although they may be coming for weighty issues, children just like adults must feel that the therapist is game for anything. 

 

Intrinsic to the process of child therapy is play. Although some children like to sit and talk, self-directed play is the primary means by which pre-schoolers and school-age children express themselves and process feelings.

 

It is up to a fine-tuned, experienced child therapist to follow the child’s lead, observe the play carefully, and respond in a meaningful way. This, of course, is a complex process that is impossible to describe in a few sentences. As in any psychotherapy, the key to a successful child therapy is a deeply trusting relationship between the child and therapist. Here, it is equally important that the child’s parents feel that trust as well.

 

Psychotherapy for children must allow for adventure and fantasy with a sense of freedom and meaning. As you can see, I work with a staff of great, fun puppets who children can connect to, confide in and identify with. Of course, options for all kinds of play and self-expression are endless and always the child’s choice. I am a big proponent of “projects” which children dream up and I help to carry out.