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.
Sometimes we can start to feel overwhelmed by life. Various triggers such as identity stress, loss, life transitions, traumatic events, anxious feelings, and relational conflict can start to feel unbearable. This can make carrying on day to day activities very challenging. Whether or not you recognize these behaviors in yourself, your children, or your family as a collective, we can work...
More than ever, our society places high demands and expectations which can be overwhelming of our emotional mental health. Utilizing psychodynamic theories, cognitive behavioral and mindfulness techniques, I seek to help children, adolescents, adults and families navigate these pressures. My goal is always to create a therapeutic alliance with my clients, one which is built on trust and a...
I believe that every person has the power to change their current situation for the better, no matter what obstacles they may be facing. My goal is to collaborate with each person, as each individual is the expert in their own life, to help them develop healthy coping strategies, learn new skills, gain insight, and find purpose and meaning in their life. Therapy is a place to create hope that...
As a Licensed Professional Counselor, I work with children, adolescents, and adult individuals with a wide range of concerns, such as Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, Autism spectrum disorders, Oppositional defiant disorder, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and Adjustment disorders, to other concerns such as grief, loss, anger, self-esteem, and stress management. As a Licensed Behavior...
( English | español ) I work with clients from 6 to 90 years old who are looking to learn to live their life in a healthy manner, who wants to improve the quality of their relationships in a personal and Laboral life. This include kids, adolescents, young adults, and adults, married or single, living alone or in a family setting. I have experience working with individuals and families using a...
For the past four years I have worked with clients of all ages. I have guided adult clients in creating progress through a combination of a Person-Centered and Solution-Focused approaches. The Person-Centered framework allows clients to gain self-awareness and self-acceptance in a non-judgemental environment. The Solution-Focused approach is future-oriented, which helps clients realize their...
You are greater than your worst day and all those negative thoughts that come with it. I love helping people find a way to see through their darkness and find the light and enjoyment of life again. Whatever you are going through is nothing to be ashamed of. I work hard to create a comfortable environment where there is no judgment, only the guidance to move forward and keep going towards the...
My name is Vanessa Guedes and I am a trilingual licensed social worker. I speak English, Portuguese and Spanish. I am passionate about helping children (ages 5-21 yrs. old) and families navigate through difficult life situations. My areas of specialty include but are not limited to: trauma, divorce, academic stressors, familial challenges, and the geriatric population. My goal is to empower and...
Elana is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology in 2007 from the State University of New York College at Brockport and her Master’s Degree in Social Work in 2009 from the State University of New York University at Albany. Elana brings to the Hampton Roads area over 10 years’ experience working with a diverse range of clients from children (ages...
I love to watch individuals and families heal and grow throughout the counseling process. It is an honor for me to be a part of this process and journey. My approach to counseling is casual and I use an experiential approach, meaning we don't necessarily have an agenda or a plan to follow. We take the counseling process step by step, and focus on building a working relationship based on trust a...
I offer a space for change by nurturing diversity and inclusion. I hope to positively impact the African American community, and all communities, by decreasing the stigma of mental health and offering a place for people of color to utilize therapy and live in more authentic and whole ways. I work with communication, anxiety, depression, life transitions, trauma, low self-worth, shame, body imag...
Social Emotional Groups summer program for ages 5-8 and 9-15 will be offered. Call for information. I focus on traditional psychotherapy involving Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution Focus, Positive Psychology, Mindfulness and Trauma Informed Therapy. I have extensive experience in working with people with developmental disabilities and apply behavior therapy techniques (ABA) during therapy...
In 1987, I started the Life Mastery Center to help people in their journey to find happiness and fulfillment in life. Life is undoubtedly stressful and can bring about feelings of depression and anxiety. These feelings can affect relationships at home, at work, at school. I believe that through the positive therapeutic process, one can get unstuck from negative habits, negative barriers, negati...
Parenting can be tough. The emotional drama, the power struggles, the bedtime or homework resistance, the clinginess. You love your child, you love being a parent, but parenting is draining. It stirs self-doubt and tests your patience. It requires humility and selflessness. In the darkest moments, you wonder if your mistakes are damaging your child. In short, it really is the toughest job most...
As a therapist, the relationship I develop with clients is based on respect, support, and encouragement, and is focused on building their individual strengths and resources. I believe that a nonjudgmental and welcoming environment is crucial to provide a safe space for clients discuss past and current issues and move forward. I work with children, teens and adults who are seeking help with trau...
