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.
I have extensive experience writing letters and coordinating care for gender diverse individuals undergoing medical transition. I enjoy working with all ages, the LGBT+ population, and am especially experienced in working with individuals experiencing autism spectrum disorder, gender dysphoria, and eating disorders. I identify as being social justice oriented and primarily conceptualize my clie...
****Now Accepting New Clients September 2020**** Meeting the Clients where they are… Searching out and seeking help from a mental health professional can be scary and overwhelming. I believe the key to building a strong therapeutic alliance is meeting the client where they are. As a therapist my role is to provide non-judgmental unconditional positive regard, to help my client with exploring an...
Life brings challenges… sometimes all at once. We may not be able to control what or when things happen but there are tools that can help us make it through those challenges successfully. You (or your child) may be looking for a safe space to process your thoughts and feelings or to develop new behaviors in a non-judgmental, supportive environment. Therapy gives us an opportunity to learn, grow...
I look forward to working with you! My clients are individuals of all ages, although I specialize in working with children, adolescents, and college students and their varied needs and challenges. I can help with such issues as anxiety, grief and loss, social skills, depression, and life transitions. With children, I use many experiential and expressive techniques that produce results while bei...
( English | español ) Life can be tough sometimes. Let me be the person you can trust, the one who is going to listen to you without judgement. People are by nature relational. It is natural to feel like you need to express yourself and be vulnerable when life may not be exactly what you thought or hoped it would be. Talking to someone who is non judgmental and whose sole purpose is to come...
My ideal client is anyone who is struggling with a loss of hope and who cannot find meaning in his or her life. They may be struggling with depression, trauma, grief, addiction, relationship problems, or developmental issues that can affect individuals at any time across the lifespan. I also work with parents struggling with raising their children, and couples who struggle with communication...
I hope that when I work with people, what stands out is the honesty, creativity and hopefulness that I bring to the therapeutic relationship. What you are struggling with is undoubtedly confusing and complex and challenging. As a therapist, I know that it is my responsibility to stand with you, no matter what comes up. I am a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with over 7 years of...
I am a believer in the human experience and normalizing the suffering that is a part of that experience. I do not take a pathological approach to individuals' mental health. I believe you will suffer within your lifetime and that we can work together to build your capacity for resilience. That being said I understand that some individuals have a chemical imbalance, or may experience psychosis i...
“When you change your mind, you change your life.” This is a beautiful quote that I heard many years ago, and it stuck with me. My name is Casey Ann Johnston, and I recently graduated from Mount Mercy University with a master’s degree in Marriage & Family Therapy. I look forward to working with all populations and cultures. My passion is helping others reach their goals by utilizing congruent...
There are times in life when you feel stuck, sad, angry, or indifferent. In these times, it is helpful to have a non-bias party be a mirror on your journey to becoming the best version of you that you can be. There are also times when clients have identified that familial traditions have held them captive or even hindered their growth. Processing those things will help you to identify the best...
Welcome to my profile page! I look forward to meeting you and your family. I have 14 years of social work experience in child welfare working with children, birth parents, foster parents and adoptive parents. I have also worked in a hospital setting with children and adults with depression, anxiety, and struggling with suicide. I enjoy supporting families as they move through the challenges of ...
Seeking help during times of difficulty is one of the more courageous acts a person can make. Early experiences wire us to respond in specific patterns as we navigate through our life. As we grow and change, sometimes these learned behaviors no longer help us, and may be creating problems in relationships or other aspects of living. Through therapy, I create a safe environment to explore these...
I am a licensed graduate professional counselor and a nationally certified school counselor with over 20 years of professional experience. I provide counseling for adults, children, adolescents, and families. Over the course of my career, I have worked in private practice and school settings providing individual, group and family therapy. I also offer educational consulting services for familie...
Congratulations for making a step toward change! Are you feeling disconnected, overwhelmed or lost? Maybe you are seeking guidance to find purpose in your life or explore who you are and how to connect with the world around you. Feeling like your best self can be challenging regardless of age or life experiences. For almost a decade, I have supported individuals and families to overcome anxiety...
