Helping children and teens feel understood, and helping parents understand them

Signs your child might benefit from support

• Worry, fears or anxiety that get in the way of school, sleep or friendships
• Big emotions, meltdowns or trouble calming down
• Changes in behavior at home or school
• Low self-esteem or negative self-talk
• Difficulty adjusting to a move, divorce, loss or other transition
• Withdrawal, sadness or loss of interest in things they used to enjoy

How play and sand tray therapy work

For younger children, play is the natural language for working through feelings. In play therapy and sand tray therapy, children use toys, art and miniature figures to show what's going on inside, often things they can't yet say out loud. This gives us a safe way to understand their experience and practice new ways of coping.

With teens, sessions usually look more like talk therapy, drawing on approaches such as CBT, DBT and emotion-focused therapy to build skills for managing stress, emotions and relationships.

Parents are part of the process

I work closely with parents and caregivers by having them participate in the process, being present in the room with the child. We'll talk about what you're seeing at home. Additionally, I'll share ways you can support your child between sessions.

Sessions in English or Russian

For many families, culture and language matter. I offer sessions in English and Russian, and I bring attention to family dynamics, culture and identity into the work.