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.
Hello, I am Genesis Espinoza. I am well aware that we all have different needs such as needing someone to talk to, needing someone to hear us out, needing someone to validate our feelings and experience, needing someone to process past trauma with, or simply needing someone's genuine and warm presence. All human beings need help navigating life and gaining assistance through life's confusion an...
And... ACTION! Therapy is a place where you can ACT OUT LOUD your frustrations and give voice to the troubling thoughts in your head that cause emotional turmoil and hold you back from being your best self. My clients include individuals who struggle with anger, depression, anxiety, sexual identity, behavioral issues, adjustment issues, grief, loss, life transitions and a host of other challeng...
What’s the dream You have for yourself and your child? What does that connection look like? Do you want something different for your child than what you had? Do you want to hit the “reset button” in the chapter of parenting? This is all possible. I believe children hold the answers in healing ourselves. They reflect back to us what needs to be seen and the work we need to do. Healing the...
Dr. Empey is a licensed clinical psychologist with 25 years of experience counseling children, adolescents, parents, adults, and couples. He specializes in helping these populations overcome difficult emotional and behavioral problems. Dr. Empey is a kind, compassionate, and knowledgeable professional capable of helping you and your loved ones to overcome your challenges and find the peace we a...
I have a passion for helping children heal from trauma and helping families overcome infertility. I utilize play therapy, expressive art, narrative therapy, and mindfulness to help clients connect to their strengths and resilience, understand their responses to trauma are normal, and create their preferred life story. At the nonprofit Families First, I serve children ages 3 to 21, their familie...
My ideal clients include caring individuals in search of a desire to be known, seen, and supported. I aim to work alongside deeply loving and caring clients, focused on healthy growth and connection for them and their families. If you or your child are feeling unseen, missed, alone, or stuck in the midst of difficult life circumstances, I would love to be a source of connection and support for...
( English | español ) You will be respected and your story acknowledged. No one has your exact story and circumstance. Together we will work so that the rest of your life's story may be genuine and fulfilling. I practice a predominantly humanistic approach in which you receive unconditional, positive regard. In other words, regardless of what you say, you will be accepted and supported and trea...
I am an active and energetic social worker with a passion for holistic health and creative interventions. I specialize in trauma-informed mental health care for children and adolescents, as well as in the development and keeping of healthy relationships across one’s lifespan. My priority in social work practice is to allow clients a safe, trusting space to set and achieve their goals where I...
David has had the opportunity to work with many children, adolescents, adults, and families to find healing in their lives. Because David believes we are all unique, he works to tailor his approaches to the needs of the individual or family and support them in whatever way needed, on their path to heal. David works to create a safe and comfortable therapeutic environment for individuals to expl...
I offer a warm, engaged, relational approach and am here to support you in understanding and processing what you are going through. If you are struggling to find peace in your day to day life, if you are in pain, feel like something is wrong with you, I can work with you to tend to the places that need your attention and help you care for the soul. I work with depth psychology, psychodynamics,...
Hi, my name is Philip Howell and I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), National Certified Counselor (NCC), and Registered Play Therapist (RPT). I graduated from Asbury College with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and graduated from Indiana Wesleyan University with a Masters Degree in Community Counseling. I have over 12 years of mental health experience working primarily w...
Sometimes life can be overwhelming. Problems with relationships, work, school, and more can lead us to having feelings of anxiety and/or depression. This can begin to feel like the new "norm." I have a passion for helping individuals get out of this painful "rut," and help them to set goals that will help them reach their fullest potential in life. My goal is to help clients discover strengths...
Are you sick and tired, of being sick and tired? If you’re ready for change, I can help. It is my belief that seeking therapy is one of the most courageous and self-empowering decisions that you can make. YOU’VE TAKEN THE FIRST STEP! I would like to help you discover your own strengths to overcome obstacles in your life. YOU ARE WORTHY! I work with clients in helping them free themselves from...
The Healing Center for Kids specializes in counseling and behavioral health. We are located in Orland Park and New Lenox. Our primary focus is to provide services that will help children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, ODD, OCD, grief, depression, anger management, self-harm, social skills, and trauma. In order to ensure your child is receiving the right treatment we have 10 mental health therapist...
My approach to therapy is to provide a safe, non-judgmental place where we can work collaboratively on specific goals to bring about personal growth, healing and healthier living. In a creative and caring environment, I help clients of all ages gain new perspectives, identify negative thinking patterns and express painful feelings. Many times people don’t have the words for what they are going...
