Play Therapy
Have you noticed that children watch the same movie/show over and over again and then suddenly, one day, they are “done” with it and no longer want to see it? This is because children repeat patterns until they have fully understood them. Because imagination and play are “safe” emotionally (everything is just pretend, right?), play therapy is a great environment for children to improve coping, process issues, and overcome emotional issues. By incorporating play into a therapeutic context, the child can improve emotional regulation, increase self esteem, and have a safe place to process issues and learn healthy ways of dealing with this “grown-up” world. Specific, scientifically proven modalities are chosen based on your child and your family’s needs.
Sometimes your child “tells” you there is a problem in non-verbal ways. Please pay attention to the signs of depression, anxiety, or other emotional problems. Some are:
- Sleep problems
- Appetite changes
- Crying
- Excessive worry
- Nail biting
- Regressed behavior
- Anger outbursts
- Sudden onset of symptoms
- Isolation
- Lack of friends
- Poor school performance
- Decreased eye contact
Reasons to bring your child to therapy:
- Problem solving
- Parent/child relationship
- Self esteem
- ADHD
- Improving school performance
- Depression
- Sleep problems
- Temper tantrums
- Anger management
- Anxiety
- Social phobia
- Selective mutism
- Building resilience
- Grief
- Coping
- Bullying