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 believe that therapy is a way for individuals to express their feelings in a safe place where they can feel heard without judgement and with compassion. It is my goal to meet my clients where they are at and come alongside them to help them through whatever difficult they are facing in their life. I use an attachment-based approach and utilize various therapeutic techniques from a variety of...
Kids, adolescents and families are my passion. When I’m not at Building Blocks Counseling Center, I may be found on the University of Dubuque campus as an adjunct psychology professor, mentoring up and coming psychology professionals, or working with new moms who are experiencing postpartum depression. I am the mother of two boys, one that spent 3 months in the NICU, so we have had quite an...
I am passionate about supporting people to reach their highest potential, through transforming challenge and pain into healing, strength, and empowerment. As a therapist, my work is to support my clients to identify these barriers to their personal happiness, heal from that which is holding them back, and begin to actively live the life they strive for. I work with both children, adolescents, a...
Welcome to Alpine Lakes Holistic Counseling & Wellness Center! If you are struggling to find joy in life, feeling stuck, often in toxic or unhealthy relationships, and/or experiencing depression, or anxiety. You may still be impacted by a traumatic event that happened years ago. Using evidenced based approaches including EMDR, ACT, Mindfulness and somatic modalities fused with holistic approach...
I am a registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (AMFT 117039 ), working under the supervision of Cristy Pareti, PsyD, LMFT. I earned my Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University and received my Bachelors Degree from Emerson College. My Clinical experience includes working with individuals whom struggle with anxiety, depression, life skills, substance abuse, eatin...
Having a child with behavioral issues can put stress on and create an imbalance in an entire family unit. My goal at Keller Child and Family Therapy is to make life better for the family by focusing on the well-being of each family member. My treatment modality is designed for children who are developmentally 1 to 5 years. Common behaviors include aggression, tantrum behaviors, impulsive...
I have over 15 years of diverse experience in the social work and mental health field. I entered the profession because I wanted to help people learn the skills necessary to live their best lives. I have served in community behavioral health outpatient, residential group treatment, and general healthcare settings primarily with individuals, children, adolescents, families, and groups with menta...
Accepting new clients. I focus on the unique challenges of those in high-pressure careers. The intensity of these jobs often leads to relationship problems, anxiety about performance, stress, exhaustion, and burnout, resulting in a shrinking support network and frustrated partners. That’s why I also focus on the families of such individuals. I realize that no two people are the same and as such...
Being a parent is tough and I’m here to help. Having worked with children and teens who struggle with anger and behavioral problems, my first goal is to create a safe space for them to express what is causing these these behaviors and emotions. As your child begins to open up, I will invite you into session and we will discuss what is causing these problems and strategies to help them manage it...
Megan Komatsu, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Arizona State University and her master's in social work from San Diego State University. She is trained in several treatment modalities and specializes in the treatment of trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, co-occurring disorders, anxiety, mood disorders, relationship issues,...
: IS YOUR CHILD EMOTIONAL, MISBEHAVING, OR JUST GETTING STUCK? Do you feel overwhelmed? Do you feel like you don't understand why your child keeps having these struggles? Is your child having melt-downs, or just feels sad and keeps isolating? Or maybe your teen doesn't feel happy, connected and confident? Maybe you feel like school is failing your child? Do you feel guilty because you can’t get...
I understand that change is not easy. We all face challenges in life, and I believe that we are more capable of overcoming those challenges with support. Whether you, or your child, or your family are facing relationship conflicts, depression, anxiety, or a significant life event, my goal is to guide my clients toward positive change. I specialize in working with children, adolescents, young...
"We often delight in the beauty of the butterfly but rarely admit to the changes it has gone through to achieve such beauty"- Maya Angelou. In counseling, I am prepared to work together and be by your side to maximize your quality of life through counseling. My belief is, it is best to let the client lead the therapeutic journey as we work together to help attain personal growth. I enjoy workin...
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with clinical experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and their families in both community mental health centers and school settings. I take on a holistic and relational treatment approach in my practice, utilizing evidenced-based therapies such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Strength Based, Family...
ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS!!! My approach to the therapeutic process is largely based on Karen Horney’s principal, which is,“You need not, and in fact, cannot, teach an acorn to grow into an oak tree, but when given a chance, its intrinsic potentialities will develop. Similarly, the human individual, given a chance, tends to develop his particular human potentialities.” I view it as my job, role and...