Child & Adolescent Play Therapy

Why play therapy works

Kids don't process feelings the way adults do. They don't always have the words for what's hard, but they have play — and play is where their nervous systems learn to regulate, repair, and feel safe again.

Using a neuroscience-based approach (Synergetic Play Therapy, certified by Lisa Dion), I help children and adolescents move through overwhelming experiences in a way their developing brains can actually integrate. Sessions look like play, but underneath, they're building the same emotional skills adult therapy works on — just at the level kids are ready for.

What kids come in for

• Anxiety, big feelings, and emotional overwhelm
• Tantrums and meltdowns parents feel powerless to stop
• Sadness, withdrawal, or social struggles
• Adjusting to divorce, a move, a new sibling, or a loss
• Sleep, school, or behavior changes that feel out of character
• Trauma — small or large — that's still showing up in the body

The goal isn't to make the feelings stop. It's to help your child build the capacity to be with them.

Parents are part of the work

Therapy with kids only sticks if the people around them shift too. That's why parent sessions are built into the work — not as an afterthought, but as a core part of the process. You'll get language, tools, and a clearer read on what your child is actually communicating through their behavior.

How we work together

Sessions are 50 minutes via secure video telehealth across California, Colorado, Nevada, and North Carolina. We start with a parent intake to understand what's going on and what you're hoping for — then your child meets me in a space designed for them.