Blog

  We know that kids living with ADHD and ADD may struggle with impulsivity and executive functioning. But did you know that these same children often struggle with low self-esteem and accompanying anxiety? There is a significant amount of research showing that...

  Whether you came across play therapy through a Google search about children’s mental health or you’ve been referred by another medical professional, you’re wondering what play therapy is all about. You want to help your child but you’re a little unsure that...

  When I work with families it is typically because a parent or caregiver is concerned about a problem with their child. And while the problem is what may initiate beginning play therapy, I think it’s very important for parents to understand that the relationship...

When a child comes for play therapy, I always ask a parent or caregiver about the school environment. Over the years I’ve had countless parents tell me that their child acts completely differently at home than at school. Sometimes these differences are an increase in...

Discipline is Not About Control   As parents, we typically have a lot of ideas about discipline. For some, discipline is about teaching a lesson. For others, discipline is about compliance. You may discover that some of your ideas about discipline are related to...

Perfectionism in children occurs when kids have unrealistic expectations for themselves. Whether these are self-imposed or imposed by an outside force, the message to the child is the same. They are afraid of failure or mistakes and can’t handle the idea of being...

  You may have heard the quote “never do for a child that which they can do for themselves” and wondered how to implement this in your parenting. After all it can be hard to watch your child struggle with a task. You may notice some of your own anxiety or...

  Self esteem is how we perceive ourselves and how we believe others feel about us. For children, a large part of that comes from what their parent or caregiver tells them about themselves and the feedback they receive.   Children begin building self-esteem...

When your child needs play therapy, you may be wondering what to expect. Perhaps you were told about play therapy by a friend, a teacher or a pediatrician. You love your child and want to help them but you’re not sure what play does and how it will help your child. We...

It’s fair to say that one of the most common phrases I hear from parents is “my child is so manipulative”. This seems to be a common myth about children. Although your child’s behaviors may appear manipulative, I’d like to share an alternative explanation.   Kids...

Children are naturally going to play. It is how they are wired. It’s how they make sense of their world. It’s how they experiment, problem solve, interact, socialize, and express their needs. So let’s look at how we take the natural language of children and view it...

One of the most common questions I am asked as a child counselor is, how do I know if my child needs therapy? As a parent, you have your child’s best interests at heart. You want them to grow up to be happy and healthy. Sometimes our children struggle in ways that we...

I get this question frequently from parents. It’s described in a variety of ways and may look like meltdowns, tantrums, and just overall disobedience. As a parent it feels overwhelming and in response you may find yourself responding with threats, time outs, and...

When we think of counseling, we often think of talk therapy. But kids are different. They need to process their emotions in a way that makes sense. If you’ve ever tried talking with your child and asking them why they did something, you may have received answers like...

Anxiety. It’s now the number one reason that parents seek therapy for their children and teens. Families are often surprised to find out that the “what” of anxious children doesn’t matter as much as the “how”. So what is anxiety? It’s a process in which our body...

You know you’re about to lose your top. You can feel the familiar sensations: tightness in your chest, muscles tensing up, and voices start to get louder and louder. You know how this turns out. You start yelling, your child shuts down. Nothing gets resolved. Words...