Depending on your individual child or teenager’s unique interests and needs, I use a combination of therapeutic modalities that may include:

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Online Therapy

Children and teenagers are well-versed in the digital world.

The internet allows them to connect with friends and family near

and far, so why not use technology to help them access mental health

support? Online therapy allows easier accessibility (no more

commuting to and from my office), which is especially helpful if

you live in a rural part of Colorado. Or just on certain days when

you and/or your child are feeling sick, there’s a snowstorm, or you’d

just rather stay in your pajamas on the couch. Teenagers often feel

most comfortable in their own space where we can practice coping tools in the place they’ll actually use them. Through online sessions, I am able to engage children and teens in play, creative arts, movement, and even EMDR Therapy.

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Play Therapy

Play is a child’s natural means of communication and expression. Children enjoy engaging in play and often “play out” their thoughts and feelings about their world. Play also facilitates social engagement and can build social skills.

 

Visit the Association for Play Therapy for more information on play therapy and its benefits.

 

Expressive Arts Therapy

Making art can be an enjoyable way for children or teenagers to express themselves. Talking about a problem is not always the best way to resolve it. Creating the space for an individual to express themselves and show their thoughts and feelings can be a gateway into underlying issues contributing to presenting symptoms. In session, I provide the option to draw, paint, engage in storytelling, or make music to soothe the nervous system and to explore the child’s inner world.

 

Body-Based Interventions

I enjoy teaching children about the connection between emotions, thoughts, and physical sensations. Feeling your heart racing faster could be an indicator that you are nervous or worried. A tightness in the chest or throat could be a clue you’re feeling sad. I encourage children to be detectives in their own lives to identify the physical signs that indicate emotions, as well as to investigate whether certain self-calming techniques are helpful or not. In session, I often teach children ways to use their bodies to calm their emotions. We practice breathwork, somatosensory interventions (see link below for more information), yoga poses, and use tools like weighted blankets and fidget toys. At the end of session, I share the interventions that a child enjoyed the most with caregivers so they can continue using them at home.

 

Check out this article about Dr. Bruce Perry to learn more about somatosensory interventions.

 

EMDR Therapy

EMDR Therapy uses eye movements or another form of alternating bilateral stimulation to take the charge off of an old memory and to change an individual’s negative beliefs about themselves that became stuck at the time of the trauma. For example, a scary event may make a child believe that in the present moment they are not safe, not lovable, or that the event was their fault. EMDR Therapy shifts this belief to the reality that the child is safe, lovable, or that it was not their fault that an unsafe incident took place. EMDR Therapy will not make a child forget a memory or change their memory of the trauma. It does help a child gain a more realistic perspective of what took place and improves their ability to move forward with their life in a positive way.

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Watch this video for a more in-depth explanation of EMDR Therapy.

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Exposure and Response Prevention

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the most effective treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). In this type of treatment I first support your child to map out their obsessions and compulsions. Then we work as a team, with your child/teen as our guide, to expose them to their feared thought, image, situation, or object and support them to make the choice to not engage in their normal compulsions. In ERP I typically include parents in sessions so that you can take our work in session home. Not every therapist has the appropriate training or expertise in treating OCD so it is important to find a therapist with training in Exposure and Response Prevention.

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Watch this video for more information about how ERP helps to treat OCD:

 

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Parenting Support

While I love working directly with children, I believe that the best way to enact change in a child’s life is to work with their caregivers. I spend one hour per week with a child, while children are in their parents’ care for the other 167 hours of the week--yes, I did the math. Parents often struggle with finding the most effective type of discipline for their unique child or with not knowing how to react in a crisis situation. I have done in-home therapy and worked on crisis intervention teams for several years. I have experienced firsthand many stressful and dangerous situations with children and teenagers. I can help give you tools and support you to brainstorm ways to effectively de-escalate crisis situations in your home or manage other challenging situations.