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 am currently not accepting new clients** You look around and ask yourself “Is this really my life right now?” Some days are okay, some are uncomfortable, and others are intolerable. In the tough moments, the things you've tried before don't seem to work. Maybe someone you cared about died. Maybe that inner critic voice is louder or more persistent than it has been before. Maybe your child’s...
I deeply value peoples' ability to be honest and kind to themselves so they can recognize when change is needed, but also forgive themselves for having struggled... because struggling is human. We all struggle, we all make mistakes, and we all have been in a place where we may not have presented as our best selves. Things in life can be difficult and we may lose sight of our importance and valu...
*ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS* Do you have a sense that you have no control in your life, your thoughts, your feelings, causing you NOT to be an active participant in your own life? Do these feeling cause you to feel that you are drifting through life, becoming depressed and anxious? My goal is to offer a safe, supportive space, to walk with you on your journey, explore aspects of the 'self' that you...
I feel privileged that you are reading this to potentially help you, a loved one, or someone you know. I would love to join you on your journey of nurturing your emotional health. Are you the one that has been considering counseling, but keep talking yourself out of it because you have lived with many of these symptoms for so long, and think you can just keep going on with them. I am here to he...
Therapy is a time to appreciate and develop patterns that are healthy and fulfilling, instead of just focusing on what's going wrong. I work towards establishing a trusting relationship where together we can collaboratively create goals that address your needs. I work both with individuals and families to address symptoms in a way that sustains long term change. I always integrate tailored...
Dr. Mary Huffstead is a licensed professional counselor, national board-certified counselor, and a child and adolescent trauma professional. Dr. Huffstead has extensive training in individual, family/couples, group and play therapy. She has a wealth of experience with a diverse client population ranging in age from primary school through adulthood. Her primary clinical work encompasses anxiety,...
I like working with all age groups, from young children to adults, because people are precious and deserve support through life issues. I want clients to feel comfortable as they work to understand and achieve their mental health and life goals. I started working as a mental health practitioner with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Behaviorism. My chosen degree, Marriage and Family Therapy, speaks ...
I work with families, children, adolescents, and adults, to understand their emotional health, learn emotional regulation, identify personal strengths, heal from traumatic experiences, and find positive ways of expressing their thoughts and feelings, providing support and hope for strengthening connections in relationships and in the family. I serve families in learning positive parenting skill...
I have experience working in many different settings including city social services, in education, an outpatient clinic and within a homeless shelter. I am trained to work with children, adolescents, parents, individuals, couples, and families on various issues that hinder growth and happiness. I specialize in the trauma therapy (EMDR), ABA for working with individuals on the spectrum, mindfuln...
Life can be overwhelming; from the chaotic daily stressors, to life changing transitions. Are you wondering how to tackle these challenging situations? Do you know something is "off" with your energy, but not quite sure what it is or how to access it? Seeking counseling services from a dance movement psychotherapist could provide you with some insight that words simply are not able to express!...
Hi! I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor with experience working with children, teens, adults, couples and families. I work with clients of various behavioral and emotional issues through an approach that takes into account the whole person. I create a warm and empathic atmosphere in which you can begin to understand yourself better, gain clarity in your life, process healing, re-connect in...
Seeking help is one of the most courageous things we can do for ourselves. Together, I believe we can begin to work towards healing from past experiences. I strive to provide a warm, welcoming, and non-judgemental environment. Each of us has had our own unique experiences in life, and I believe what we go through plays a part in who we become. I am passionate about trauma work, especially sexua...
The services provided at Healthy Progressions include individual therapy targeting clients with, but not limited, to the following diagnosis: Major depression, PTSD, Bipolar, Anxiety, OCD, Adjustment disorder, Eating disorders as well as those with a history of grief and trauma. The population served will be individuals of all genders ranging from 6 years of age and older. With the use of...
I enjoy working with people who are motivated to do the work necessary in order to achieve the changes that they want to make in their lives. I've worked treating children and adults (ages 3 and up); I see the therapeutic process as a joint venture as we tackle the most salient issues folks struggle with. I look forward to hearing from those individuals who are eager to work toward bettering th...
Reaching out to find help can be a difficult & stressful process. It is my goal to try & make that process as easy & comfortable as possible. I work with children, adolescents & adults in three types of sessions (Individual, Couple & Family). I specialize in helping children/teens during transitional periods of development & the impact on the family. This most often presents as anxiety, depress...