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 so glad that you are looking to feel better, understand yourself and improve your life. Therapy is an amazing journey that can help you with many areas of life that may feel overwhelming and unchangeable. I have a passion for helping others and find joy in the work I do. I would be honored to be with you on this journey. I have been practicing in the field for 15+ years, working with child...
****Currently accepting clients for Telehealth Therapy.**** Welcome! Having someone listen to you, without judging or minimizing what you feel and think is so important. Together, we can help you gain clarity, set goals, and take steps toward healing. I provide a safe space in my practice to allow for all stages of self-discovery and wellness for you or your family. Reaching out for help can be...
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Kids face all sorts of pressures, choices, challenges, and traumas in our culture today that affect the way they connect and engage with their worlds around them. It can look like anxiety, depression, behavioral acting out, emotional walling-off, etc. I work with children and families to investigate and discover what's needed to repair and rebuild the damaged or broken pieces that affect kids d...
You are your most important personal investment. Have you taken time to check in with yourself? Our emotional and behavioral well-being affects every aspect of our lives but sometimes taking those initial steps to talk to somebody may feel overwhelming. My goal as a therapist is to provide a safe space for my clients to process their feelings that allows them to grow and make the changes they w...
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Allison Leonard is a Licensed Social Worker from Atlanta, Georgia who graduated from Loyola’s Master of Social Work program with a Mental Health Specialization. In both her graduate & undergraduate work, she studied abroad in Italy & Ireland to study mental health social policy & the psychology of terrorism. She chose this field because of the healing relationships it allows her to build with...
I am an Associate Marriage Family Therapist. My orientation is attachment based therapies. I specialize in children and adolescents, utilizing attachment based trauma focused techniques to include Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT), play therapy, sand tray therapy, and interactive play with a purpose . I am also experienced in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Emotionally Focused Family...
Hi, my name is Tammy Vaughn. My clients, whether children or adults, tell me they feel comfortable with me because I'm friendly and relatable. My client centered approach is important to me because I believe that clients must feel heard, understood and helped. After a crisis, my clients often reach out to me again because they need support and to be heard or to create a plan. Some clients have...
Are you concerned about your child's behavior? Are you struggling to understand what is happening for your child? Are you finding parenting overwhelming? I have experience working with children, adolescents and parents on many issues including loss, attachment, anxiety, anger, impulsivity, and low self-esteem. I also work with complex famlies dealing with family conflict. Parents are essential ...
Pam received a Bachelors degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. Pam is a creative counselor ready to meet your, or your child’s, needs. She has 6+ years of experience working with children, adolescents, and families in a variety of settings, with a variety of needs. She uses many different techniques to provide a comprehensive...
”The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but having new eyes” (Marcel Proust). I enjoy taking the journey with you. I am a clinical psychologist and art therapist, dedicated to helping individuals of all ages – child through adult – feel hopeful and empowered while facing challenges from stress and emotional problems due to mental health issues, physical illness,...
Jessica “Jess” Krock is a licensed clinical social worker who received her Master of Social Work degree from Loyola after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She understands what it means to come to therapy & knows therapy can work if you’re willing to do the work. Asking for help & getting to that first therapy session is brave a...
Dawnielle Gaskin is a Licensed Professional Counselor who received a master’s in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in Child & Family Studies from Roosevelt University after graduating with both a Bachelor of Arts in Clinical Psychology & a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. In addition to her LPC, she is also a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional & holds a Domestic Violence Training...
Many times in life we find ourselves struggling with change. We feel burdened by changes that are out of our control, or discouraged by unsuccessful attempts at creating change. Ideas of who we should be and all of the ways we fall short can so easily conceal our path to contentment and self-love. So why go to therapy? Therapy gives you a non-judgmental space to explore needs, express feelings,...
