Adolescents
                        A Room to Grow In

 Children and adolescents need to feel connected to their imaginations, their emotions, and their sense of trust in the world. Therapy can provide a container for their developing sense of self, can build communication skills, and can be a place to creatively work through issues and dilemmas to strengthen, stabilize and flex their core selves.

Building resilience in an affirming, attuned relationship is a major goal of therapy. Humor is a must! We get to practice positive self expression, tolerating uncomfortable emotions, growing autonomy, and problem solving in sessions.

I use a variety of creative and empathic approaches to connect and bond with children and adolescents appropriate to their own developmental stage, personal needs and circumstances. I utilize current neuroscience findings with somatic practices to practice regulation skills. If they are interested, I utilize arts as expression, including writing, singing, and theater games.

EMDR tapping practices are creative and useful tools for kids, adolescents and families.

Addressing attachment issues, as well as any traumas or anxiety issues, and building resiliency and communication skills during these stages can be enormously important for growing children and asserting adolescents.

Addressing negative family patterns of communication, and encouraging mindfulness and empathic responses can be used to address whole family dynamics, re-balancing developing issues for potential growth throughout the entire family.

Family work and parenting is an on-going growth process. I utilize strengths, values-based decision making, mindfulness and self-compassion to lower reactivity and encourage self reflection and awareness.