Individual talk therapy
For adults, teens, and some adolescents, traditional talk therapy may be most appropriate. While sessions will look very different depending on your age, we will leverage the power of human connection to bring about therapeutic change. Though we mostly "just talk", verbalizing your inner thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a trusting and safe environment is scientifically proven to reduce distress and increase a sense of well-being.
For more information about my approach to individual therapy and the techniques I use, see the "My approach" and "Theoretical orientation" pages on this site.
Play therapy
For most young children and many adolescents, play therapy is the most effective modality to promote emotional, mental, and behavioral well-being. Sessions will typically involve the child and me only, but in some cases (including with children five and under) sesions will also include caregivers/parents.
For more information about play therapy, please see the "Resources" page. For more information about my approach to play therapy and the techniques I use, see the "My approach" and "Theoretical orientation" pages on this site.
Family therapy
Family therapy treats the whole family system. You may want to work on communication patterns or relationships within your family. Or perhaps one member of the family presents behaviors or mental health challenges that initiate services for that person. However, with deeper exploration, I may reccommend some or all of the members of the family participate in therapy. Either way, family therapy will treat the family as the client to bring about systemic change in the family unit that ripples throughout relationships and individual family members.
Parent support
Whether you are wrestling with the challenges that arose from the pandemic, navigating how to understand and advocate for your neurodivergent child, or grappling with challenging behaviors, I will help you best meet your child’s needs, and nurture a safe, mutually enjoyable relationship with your child.
Our parent support sessions may look like concrete skills or strategies. I may unpack the neuroscience behind your child's behaviors in a way that feels accessible and hopeful. Sometimes parenting challenges come from our own unprocessed childhood experiences, insecurities, fears, goals, etc. and the work involves familiarizing ourselves with those aspects and healing where it is needed.
Parent support can also take different forms. I may meet with you as an adjunct to your child's individual therapy. While I always offer periodic check-ins at no cost, parent support sessions are longer and focus on the parent's role in supporting the child. I may meet with you as a component of family therapy. Other times, I may not work with your child or family at all, and we may do our own work together that supports your ability to show up as the parent you want to be. We will work together to find the most appropriate way to meet your parenting goals.
Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), often called "tapping," is a gentle, evidence-informed approach that blends elements of cognitive therapy with acupressure. In my clinical practice, I use EFT to support clients in regulating their nervous systems, reducing distress related to painful memories, and gently shifting unhelpful emotional or cognitive patterns. This technique can be particularly helpful for addressing anxiety, trauma responses, and somatic symptoms, as it engages both the body and mind. I integrate EFT into therapy as a collaborative process, empowering clients to access their own inner calm and resilience.
You can read more about EFT here.
Group therapy involves a small group of people (typically 4-10 people) who share an experience, diagnosis, or set of presenting problems and meet with a licesnsed professional to work through them together. Group formats provide an opportunity to connect with others in similar situations, among other benefits. Groups may be "open" (meaning you attend as needed) or "closed" (meaning the same members meet each week for a prescribed duration of time.)
I offer in-person and virtual closed groups based on need/demand. Inquire about any current or upcoming groups, or message me to become a part of my email list to get updates about group offerings. Group themes may include:
Parenting (with anxiety, co-regulation)
Emotional regulation, interpersonal skills for children, decoding communication
Grief (parents, adults, children)
Mindfulness group (various ages)
Decoding communication
Stressors related to COVID-19 and living in a post-COVID world
Throughout the year, I offer in-person and virtual workshops for children and adults. Some are completed in one sitting, others are part of a series. Workshops are not clinical services. Rather, they are opportunities for education and experiential learning. You can expect to find workshops offered on topics such as:
Grief
Giftedness
Parenting strategies
Co-regulation
If you would like to request a workshop or be part of my email list to stay updated on upcoming workshops, please email me at drmaggieatlas@honeypalmpsych.com!