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.
Life brings about many issues that we often want help working through. Irvin Yalom wrote “it’s the relationship that heals," and I aim to build a strong therapeutic alliance with each of my clients in a safe, warm, and empathic environment where we will work together to determine your specific goals for therapy, identify strategies to make your desired changes, heal wounds, increase your coping...
The children I work with have experienced a traumatic event or have a complex trauma history. They may be experiencing symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. This might include; nightmares, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, irritability or anxiety. These children need a safe space to work through their experiences. They also need to learn relaxation and cognitive coping techniques. They want...
My specialty is utilizing play therapy and family therapy to address opposition, impulsivity, and trauma in both children and adolescents. I create a safe space for children to explore their feelings and process challenges they may have. My ideal family would be engaged in the therapeutic process and help to generalize the skills learned in therapy into the home and school setting. I am trained...
The hardest part of therapy is making the choice to seek help. If you’re reading this, you’ve already begun the work. Congratulations. You're at the beginning of an exciting and fruitful journey. When working with me, you or your loved ones can count on receiving loving, respectful, and supportive treatment while exploring the issues you bring to therapy. Whatever you are feeling and whatever i...
***Accepting New Teletherapy Patients *** ***Currently not accepting patients under 13.*** I consider the overlapping experiences of self, authenticity, identity and relationships as central to therapy and the ways in which we make sense of ourselves and others in the world. Within therapy I work with patients in an empathic, challenging, supportive and relational way toward life changes, as we...
My ideal clients vary into different populations. Teenagers who have struggled connecting with past therapists or prominent figures in their life tend to be my specialty. Helping them through this difficult phase in life is a privilege. Couples work is also a passion of mine. Being able to help couples work through disagreements, talk more openly about sex, and work on communication skills whil...
When dealing with life’s struggles, it helps to have someone to talk to who can help and heal. Whether it’s stress, anxiety, depression or sudden loss, we can help release the pressure. Speak with a licensed therapist from the privacy and comfort of your own home or our office. You don't have to be alone as Another Level Counseling and Consultation is here for you. You can usually get an...
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a certified trauma specialist. I work with individuals who are struggling with a wide variety of issues that include but are not limited to depression, anxiety, PTSD, in addition to other interpersonal stressors. I work with these individuals to help them find relief and better ways of managing these symptoms to ensure one can maintain a healthy qualit...
I am a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor practicing at the Association of Childcare Physicians. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from SIUE and my Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from McKendree University in 2008. I have experience working with adults, teenagers, adolescents and children in residential, school and office settings. My specialty areas include depressio...
***Waitlist*** Nizhóní is a traditional Navajo word, which means “The Beauty Way.” Beauty is a sense of being, and is comprised of harmony and balance that is felt within. A healthy person lives in balance within themselves and in harmony with their environment. In times of crisis, we struggle with depression, anxiety, relationships, life transitions, divorce, stress, past trauma, grief and los...
I strive to create a safe and empathetic space for individuals to voice their fears, hurt and concerns. This safe space fosters awareness and encourages healing. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice. I provide treatment to children, adolescents and adults. I am trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, evidenced based treatment for children and...
Zena Counseling Center provides an accepting and nurturing environment that emphasizes psychological reconstruction, behavioral reformation and spiritual elevation. This allows our clients to feel comfortable exploring their goals and unique strengths in order to empower them in making meaningful live changes. Our counseling center utilizes a holistic integrative approach that acknowledges the...
Life is full of change and the unexpected. Have you been blindsided by one of the many curveballs life can throw at you? Do you feel overwhelmed, lost, or directionless? Realigning after a huge change- be it the loss of a loved one, separation/divorce, job change, health shift, or even college graduation- can be a challenging process. I love to help people adjust, grow, and transform though the...
Being a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for 15 years, working with families, in addition to, supporting children and adolescents with complex emotional, intellectual and behavioral needs, Allison has extensive experience working with a broad range of mental health issues including anxiety, depression, trauma, mood disorders, socialization issues and neurodevelopmental disorders. Over the years,...
As an art therapist, I am open to guiding client's into an exploration of self, targeting key issues with a creative focus. This includes utilizing various mediums, such as pastels, paints, and collage to uncover and discover all aspects of self. These transformative mediums can aid in building self esteem, resolving conflict, healing underlying issues causing somatic ailments etc. I have...
