COMMON QUESTIONS

I admire you already. It says to me that you are prioritizing your child's well-being, as well as your own. It says that you are a perfectly "normal" person who wants to learn and grow. Sometimes it can be hard to understand your child's behaviors; having someone to sit and be fully present with you or your child might just be the extra support you need. I'd be honored to have the opportunity to be the person who helps you and your child through your journey.  

Counseling looks a bit different for each person based on the type of challenges you are facing and based on the goals that you set for yourself or your child. My approach is to look for the unmet needs behind your actions and help you to find ways to meet those needs. 

Some examples include: 

• Caregivers who are struggling with understanding their children and are open to ideas on how to increase communication and resolve problems. 

• Children who have been through a challenging situation and need a place to process their fears and anxieties. 

• Teens who are experiencing anxiety, depression, or relationship struggles. 

It really depends on your reasons for seeking counseling and the specific goals you set for yourself and/or your family. Some people have a lot that they want to unpack and sort through in counseling, while other want just a few coaching sessions. Typically, I tend to see clients anywhere from 5 to 24 sessions. Ultimately, you get to decide what you need and how you see the work you are doing in therapy influencing your well-being. During your first intake session, I will get to know you and your needs and will provide you with a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) on length of therapy and cost. Sessions are 50 minutes in length and typically occur weekly. 

I utilize play therapy, sandtray therapy, and art activities to allow children the ability to express their feelings through the language of play. Some children come into counseling wanting to talk and others need more flexible ways of communicating. I try to be open to the age, development, and needs of the child in determining the best modality in supporting them. In short, we all have parts of ourselves that we may not always fully embrace, therapy allows even little ones to embrace those parts and come to a place of healing and acceptance so that they can grow in ways that are healthy. 

First off, I try to really listen. Being a teenager is incredibly hard and I want to do my best to understand. I then work to help teens to address their top concerns by increasing awareness of the ways that their thoughts and actions might not be healthy or helpful for their situation. I help teens identify patterns and recognize the needs they are trying to meet. I focus on coping skills and regulating the nervous system. I primarily use Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in my work with teens, however, I love to incorporate art activities and sandtray into my sessions. Anxiety and depression are heavy topics so I try to bring in more body-based work to help regulate the nervous system through a bottom-up approach. 

I listen so that I can understand the needs of the caregiver and their child, while providing them with insights and support through curriculums such as TBRI, Nurturing Parenting, and Circle of Security. I love to help parents support their children through clear expectations, open lines of communication, and increased opportunities for connection. 

“Misbehavior is the expression of an unmet need. If a child needs nurture and I give him structure, I harm his ability to trust me. If a child needs structure and I give him nurture, I harm his ability to grow. Nurture and structure must be used hand in hand." 

- Karyn Purvis