To get started , I do a 2 hour assessment with parents where you share a full history of your child so that I can learn about how nature and nurture play a role. I get to learn how your child’s temperament and personality came into this world and how your child has responded to all that they have encountered in this world. This knowledge helps me understand your child, your family and your situations. You share with me what is the presenting problem or challenges and then during the assessment I give you my professional perspective, thoughts, suggestions and recommendations. We then together decide frequency and style of sessions which can vary to seeing the child alone in play therapy, see child and parent together in play therapy, and having parent coaching sessions. Typically I see a child weekly or bi weekly. When I work with a child I ALWAYS work with the parents as well. After the assessment I will continue to have meetings with parents that could vary in frequency based on need and may look like bi weekly, monthly or every 6-8 weeks.

After the assessment, Your child will come in to my playroom (in Natick MA) and choose activities from many choices. Children lead the way as they instinctively know what they need to work through and show me through their art, play or words. My sessions are child directed meaning I do not create assignments or session goals, I let the child process at their pace and in their way. I follow the child’s lead by reading their non verbal cues and their energy. Often children meet with me alone, but in some cases having parent present is an important part of the work. It is a case by case situation.

I also integrate mind body approaches to the play therapy so the child can process their emotions on every level. This may include yoga poses, energy psychology, and Reiki. I only include Reiki if parents have given me permission to do so.