Does your child seem talkative at home but shuts down in public or around others? They may be struggling with selective mutism—a childhood anxiety disorder that makes speaking in certain settings feel impossible. In this post, I share how play therapy can gently help children feel safe, express themselves, and begin to find their voice again.
Growing up is different for every child, but what happens when your child struggles with big emotions? Outsized responses to small things can be a symptom of a lack of emotional regulation. The good news is that help is possible.
Expressive therapy helps kids cope with big emotions through art, play, and movement. Learn how this creative approach supports children's mental health.
Children feel emotions deeply but often lack the words to verbally share their thoughts and feelings. Using play—the natural language of children—play therapy offers a safe, structured environment where kids can express themselves, process experiences, and develop essential coping skills. Creative Family Counseling and Coaching...
In my last blog post From Ballet Dreams to Play Therapy: Embracing God’s Plan for My Journey, I talked about my unexpected path into the heart of play therapy—a journey that started with a leap into the unknown and blossomed into a profound calling. Since...
My story begins far from the world of therapy, in the picturesque landscapes of France, where I grew up dreaming of becoming a ballerina. My childood was filled with the discipline and beauty of dance as I attended the Conservatoire National de Strasbourg, a prestigious...
Many of us have early childhood memories of making sand castles at the beach, or playing in a sandbox at the park playground. That peaceful memory of being alone in your thoughts as you mold the sand and create something unique is a clue to...
Through play, children discover the world around them and their feelings about it. Play is also how children communicate these often-complex feelings. This is what makes play therapy such a powerful treatment. Pretending offers children the opportunity to “finally” be in charge and express what...
Children have great imaginations, and they use it in every aspect of their lives. Play is a huge part of children’s lives and they create imaginary scenarios with their toys all the time. If something is going on in a child’s life, one of the...
Childhood can be a time of great wonder and joy. But for some, childhood is fraught with ugly family or school situations that overwhelm and depress developing psyches. Adults who are having trouble in their lives can often get help by speaking with a trained...
We love this intervention from Kristina Marcelli Sargent’s post – Hot cocoa breathing sensory art activity. She has a breadth of creative therapy interventions!! We already love this one – We are definitely going to be doing a lot of “hot cocoa” breathing with our...
Disclaimer: Names have been changed to protect the anonymity of the client. One of the joys of my work as a therapist is not only engaging in this exciting and fun medium of play therapy, but also teaching parents how to connect with their children...