Play Therapy is an approach to counseling utilized for children. Children learn to understand the world through play. Play Therapy embraces play to facilitate therapeutic interventions. Play can include games, dolls, art activities, sports, make-believe, or any other activity that fits a child developmentally and emotionally.
Play Therapy can be beneficial for children with behavioral issues. Because these children might not have the words to communicate their feelings or might not want to, this allows them a space to express themselves and share their feelings through play.
Play therapists get to know the child’s specific interests and can tailor their counseling space to make it unique for each child. As the counselor observes and interacts with the child, they can understand the emotions that lead to their behaviors. Over time, therapists can encourage children to use play to express feelings instead of expressing them through inappropriate or harmful behaviors.
Play Therapy can also be used for adults to help them connect with their inner creativity and facilitate child-like joy.
There are times that someone cannot fight a battle on their own. Although, they have tried continuously and feel that they have gotten nowhere. I want to assist you in getting to where you want to be at and illustrate that it can happen. Si se puede! Therapy is a healing process that requires the participation and investment from the client and the therapist, but in the end, making small...
We all need to feel understood and accepted for our own uniqueness and individual ways of learning, doing and being our "personal best". We need courage to find ways to try again when things don't go as planned despite our efforts. Counseling provides a safe haven for the release and expression of our thoughts and feelings without judgement . My life and 30 years of career experiences in the...
I have experience treating individuals and couples with depression, anxiety, attachment and trauma. I have worked extensively with children, teens and young adults and believe my relationship with my clients is a partnership working to achieve the clients goals. I strive to assist clients with identifying and building upon their strengths and growing through their challenges. I am an eclectic...
Serving as a minister and earning a PhD in Counseling Psychology equipped me to care for people in crises. Working with vulnerable children and their families or caregivers, also proved to be a valuable foundation for clinical care. In a medical academic setting, training residents in the use of spirituality and psychology as they cared for their patients, deepened my own understanding of just ...
To preserve everyone’s safety during COVID-19, all sessions are currently conducted via Zoom/telehealth. I offer comprehensive testing and assessment services via telehealth for learning, attention, executive functioning, mood, and anxiety concerns for children, adolescents, college students, and adults. I also offer weekly telehealth therapy sessions. My approach to teletherapy is an empatheti...
Hurting? Worried? Anxious? Sad? Are you in trouble? How about your child, family, marriage, or loved one? Life can be tough, it is much harder when you are hurting. Have you checked out of life, your friendships, work, or school? Life at times will slap even the most determined person around. You are reading this because some aspect of your life is no longer working like you want it too. It...
Touched by Adoption? The Barker Foundation recognizes that adoption is a lifelong journey, with normal developmental challenges and tasks. We will walk with you through and support you through your journey. Whether you are an adoptive parent with a child that is struggling emotionally or academically; a birth parent who is seeking understanding, reflection, or search and reunion; or an adoptee...
Wanda Is only providing Tele-therapy at this time. Clinical Supervisor Wanda Montemayor is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor (LPC-S-AT), a Registered Art Therapist (ATR-BC, ATCS) , a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor ( RPT-S) with a specialty in EMDR and animal-assisted therapy. In addition to her traditional counseling and therapy (talk therapy) methods, she integrates art therapy ...
As a licensed professional counselor, my goal is to provide clients a caring environment of safety, support, and growth. I specialize in counseling approaches for children, adolescents, adults, and families. Working towards wellness, I strive to join clients in identifying goals and developing an action plan that supports growth towards a positive sense of well-being. I earned a master’s degree...
All children experience difficulty in the course of growing up (at home, school, with other children, etc.) or may behave in some way which concerns their parents or teachers. You can always seek extra support to help your child overcome these difficulties and increase their resilience. If you and/or your child’s teacher or pediatrician are concerned about your child’s adjustment or behavior, p...
Life doesn’t always go according to plan. And, sometimes there isn’t a plan, or it’s someone else’s plan, or the plan simply isn’t working. I offer a compassionate space where you can feel safe and supported as we explore the unexpected or ongoing turbulence your life. My trauma-informed approach to counseling is centered on building a trust-based collaboration that will support you as you begi...
Life comes with inevitable changes that can be difficult whether they are planned and wanted, or unplanned and dreadful. With these changes can come emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, or grief, just to name a few. The way we deal with these changes has a lot to do with our past experiences and perception. Our sense of self-worth influences almost every aspect of our lives, and when i...
I hold a MA from Wake Forest University in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and MS in Administration of Justice with special focus in Forensic Mental Health Treatment. I am a master level trained behavior specialist in Applied Behavior Analysis. I am an experienced therapist and hold licenses in Pennsylvania and Ohio with licensure pending in New York State. I also have a passion for groups...
***NO LONGER TAKING NEW CLIENTS AS OF 8/12/2020*** I believe everyone has the inner resources to heal and grow to their fullest potential. With a supportive, empathetic and fully present guide, that healing can be accessed and challenges can be overcome, often in a short span of time. If you are motivated, now would be the time to get help. For the past 11 years, I’ve been working with children...
"When you can't find the sunshine, be the sunshine." Supporting others through difficult times has been a life-long passion of mine. I am a welcoming and enthusiastic therapist with the ability to help youth manage their behavior and emotional state in a moment of crisis or through major life transitions. I have a unique ability to see the strengths in each individual I meet. I am known for bei...
