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.
Do you have a child who is defiant, acts impulsively, or struggles to show self-control? Is anxious, withdrawn, or depressed? Struggling socially or in school? Having difficulty adjusting to a stressful life experience? I primarily work with young children (2-10 years old) who are experiencing behavioral, emotional, psychological, and/or relational problems that are interfering with their...
Seeking support for yourself and/or child requires courage and humility. When we experience emotional safety, we begin to understand our ourselves more deeply. I strive to provide each of my clients with a safe, comforting, and non-judgmental environment where we can build a therapeutic alliance based on trust. My style is warm, interpersonal, client-centered, and challenging at times, focused...
Reaching out can be insanely difficult and vulnerable at times, I get it. Come in, have some tea, see if the connection feels right for you. I'm here to offer my heart, love, guidance, resources and a safe cozy space for sharing and moving through what may be stuck or needing extra attention. I am here to wade through the gunk with you and also to help you see through and beyond it. At times th...
As a therapist, I offer my patients a supportive environment that fosters accountability so that a person can succeed in changing themselves, or aspects of their lives. Using an insight-oriented directive approach to therapy, I provide clients with the opportunity to accept change, gain control, and the ability to expand one's beliefs, thoughts, and possibilities. I believe that change is a...
Do you ever feel that somewhere along the parenting path you lost yourself? Maybe your relationship has suffered? Or you find yourself feeling resentful, short tempered, distant or just plain tired?! I help parents reclaim their identity and their relationship while raising children in an authentic way. You have probably read countless parenting books, blogs, or magazines. You have tried...
If life's challenges feel overwhelming, are causing you pain, have you feeling stuck or off balance; I would like to help. I provide a warm, friendly, and nonjudgmental environment that fosters healing, change, and personal growth. Therapy is a collaborative and creative process. I use a supportive, client-centered approach that allows us to explore current challenges and/or past painful events...
The hardest part is making that first call. I have over 20 years of experience as a counselor. I love what I do. Call any time for an appointment. 432-248-6449. Or after hours. 325-998-9630. Therapy is cheaper than... Many times I hear people say they cant afford therapy. But if you figure the costs it saves it is money well spent. Divorce? Can cost your thousands and half of everything you own...
My goal is to assist teens and their families establish healthy communication and connection. I offer warmth and empathy, coupled with education, experience, and evidence-based tools. For the past ten years I have help teens improve their self-concept, establish healthy boundaries, improve mood, and work through traumas. Also, my training in family systems theory allows me to understand the...
You are a gift. A miracle. You were born a champion! You were born and brought into this world in pure love. As we experience our life, things happen that cause us to shift from that pure love to emotional discord. As a result, we grow apart from our true self, that pure love. For some, emotional disturbances or conditions develop such as anxiety, depression, anger, negative thinking or...
"You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide no to be reduced by them." Maya Angelou. I provide you with a safe place without judgement, together we will find solutions to help you get to a better functioning. I am passionate about the work that I do and I want you to leave my office feeling a sense of tranquility and motivation. I have over 10 years of experience...
My clients come to me because they are struggling with behavioral issues, school problems, difficulties controlling worries, or poor emotion regulation skills. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor that enjoys working with children, adolescents, and families. Working collaboratively with clients, I strive to create shared goals and build skills using play therapy and cognitive behavioral...
Parenting can be tough, and I'm here to help. Maybe your toddler can't stop his tantrums, your third-grader refuses to go to school, or your teen is struggling with coming out as transgender. You're not sure how your divorce is affecting your kids, and you're worried about them. Or your child is adopted and you work hard to feel connected, work hard to help when she's out of control. As a Licen...
(William R.) Bill Matthews, MA, LPC, PDDEd has been a Licensed Professional Counselor since 1981. Bill began his career working with runaway and throwaway youth. He later became director of that program before moving on to be a clinical coordinator of an outpatient mental health/substance abuse agency. Bill is trained as a family systems therapist, and is certified as an EMDR practitioner (with...
Beginning therapy can be a difficult process, and selecting the “right” therapist is an important and positive first step. In a safe and supportive environment, I bring 30-plus years of experience and ongoing training in cognitive-behavioral, psychodynamic, parenting and family therapies. I work in a highly effective results-oriented manner with children (4 years and older), adolescents and adu...
Children and Families have been my passion for the duration of my professional career. Specializing in services to Kindergarten to 8th grade, I utilize strength-based supportive counseling approach to overcome challenges within and outside the family system. As a current Certified School Counselor working at a progressive and diverse elementary school and a past Developmental Leadership Program...
