Therapy for Individuals & Families with a specialization in Kids, Teens & Type 1 Diabetics
Child therapy & Pediatric counseling in las vegas, nv
How I Can Help Children
Growing up comes with many changes, emotions, and experiences that children are still learning to understand and navigate. Sometimes, children have difficulty expressing their feelings, managing frustration, adjusting to changes, or communicating what they need. These challenges can affect their behavior, relationships, school experiences, and overall well-being.
As a marriage and family therapist, I provide a supportive and compassionate environment where children can begin to understand their emotions, develop healthy coping skills, and build confidence in themselves. I use Play Therapy and other developmentally appropriate approaches to help children express themselves, explore their experiences, and work through challenges in ways that feel comfortable and natural to them. Because play is one of the primary ways children communicate and make sense of their world, it can offer valuable insight into their feelings, needs, and experiences.
I work with children and families to navigate emotional and relationship challenges, tailoring my approach to each child's developmental level, individual needs, and family circumstances. My goal is to help children feel understood, supported, and better equipped to handle life's challenges.
Common Challenges Children Face
Children don't always have the words to explain what they're feeling. Sometimes, emotional distress shows up through behavior, changes in mood, withdrawal, frustration, or difficulties at home or school. Through Play Therapy, children can use toys, games, creative activities, and imaginative play to express feelings and explore experiences that may be difficult to put into words. I believe that understanding what may be underneath a child's behavior is an important step toward finding more effective ways to support them.
In my work with children and families, I help address challenges such as:
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Anxiety and worry: Helping children navigate fears, uncertainty, separation worries, and situations that feel overwhelming while developing tools to manage anxious feelings.
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Big emotions and frustration: Helping children recognize their feelings and develop healthier ways to respond to anger, disappointment, and stress. Play-based activities can provide opportunities to practice emotional regulation and coping skills.
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Behavioral challenges: Exploring the feelings, needs, and circumstances that may contribute to difficult behaviors, rather than focusing only on the behavior itself.
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Self-esteem and confidence: Helping children recognize their strengths, develop a positive sense of self, and feel more comfortable expressing themselves.
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Friendships and social difficulties: Helping children navigate peer conflicts, feelings of being left out, communication difficulties, and the development of healthy relationships.
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School-related stress: Supporting children as they work through worries about school, performance expectations, transitions, and challenges with peers.
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Family changes and transitions: Helping children adjust to changes such as divorce, moving, a new sibling, or other significant life events. Play can give children a safe, developmentally appropriate way to explore their feelings about these changes.
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Communication and emotional expression: Helping children identify their feelings, communicate their needs, and feel more understood by the people around them. Play Therapy can be especially helpful for children who have difficulty talking directly about what is bothering them.
Every child is different, and a particular behavior doesn't automatically mean a child needs therapy. I take the time to understand each child's individual experience and explore appropriate ways to support their emotional well-being and development.
What to Expect From Child Therapy
Starting therapy can bring up questions for both parents and children. You may wonder how your child will communicate their feelings, what happens during a session, or how therapy can help when your child has difficulty explaining what's wrong.
When beginning the therapeutic process, I work to understand your child's concerns, developmental needs, family circumstances, and goals for treatment. Depending on your child's age and individual needs, our sessions may incorporate Play Therapy, age-appropriate conversations, games, creative expression, and other activities that help children explore their feelings and experiences.
Play Therapy allows children to communicate and work through experiences in ways that are appropriate for their age and stage of development. Rather than expecting children to explain everything they are feeling, I create opportunities for them to express themselves through play while supporting their emotional growth and developing understanding of their experiences.
Throughout therapy, I may help your child work toward:
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Recognizing and understanding different emotions.
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Developing healthy coping skills for frustration, worry, and disappointment.
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Building confidence and a stronger sense of self.
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Practicing communication and problem-solving skills.
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Learning ways to navigate friendships and family relationships.
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Exploring difficult experiences and adjusting to changes.
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Responding to challenging situations in more constructive ways.
My approach isn't about labeling a child as the problem or expecting them to change overnight. Instead, I focus on understanding your child's needs, building on their strengths, and helping them develop skills that can support them as they grow. I tailor the approach and pace of treatment to each child's circumstances and individual needs.
Parent Involvement and Family Support
As a parent or caregiver, you play an important role in your child's emotional development. When your child is struggling, it can be difficult to know whether to offer reassurance, set boundaries, ask questions, or give them space. You may also feel concerned or frustrated when the strategies you've tried no longer seem to help.
I recognize that supporting a child often means supporting the family as well. Child therapy can provide an opportunity to better understand your child's emotional needs and explore practical ways to help them navigate challenges. When appropriate, Play Therapy can help children express feelings and experiences that may be difficult for them to communicate directly, giving us additional ways to understand their perspective and identify areas where they may need support.
Depending on your child's circumstances and treatment goals, parent consultations or family sessions may be incorporated into the therapeutic process.
Family-focused support may include:
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Helping you better understand your child's emotions and behavior.
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Exploring strategies for responding to challenging situations.
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Strengthening communication between you and your child.
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Establishing healthy routines, expectations, and boundaries.
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Supporting your child through family changes and stressful experiences.
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Helping you encourage emotional expression and age-appropriate independence.
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Identifying ways to reinforce the coping skills your child develops in therapy at home.
My goal is to help families develop a clearer understanding of what their child may be experiencing and find healthier ways to respond to challenges together. I tailor parent involvement to the child's needs, and I discuss expectations around confidentiality and communication as part of the therapy process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Therapy
How do I know if my child might benefit from therapy?
You may want to explore therapy if your child is experiencing persistent worry, frequent emotional outbursts, difficulties with friendships, changes in behavior, family conflict, or challenges adjusting to life changes. You don't need to wait until a concern becomes severe to ask whether additional support may be helpful. If you're unsure whether therapy is right for your child, I welcome you to reach out so we can discuss your concerns and explore the options available.
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What ages of children do you work with?
I work with children ages 5 and up. My approach is tailored to each child's age, developmental level, and individual needs. Play Therapy and other age-appropriate activities can help children communicate and explore their experiences in ways that feel comfortable to them.
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What is Play Therapy, and how can it help my child?
Play Therapy is a therapeutic approach that uses play to help children express themselves, explore their feelings, and work through difficult experiences. Because children may not yet have the words or emotional awareness to explain what they are experiencing, play can provide another way for them to communicate. Through developmentally appropriate play-based activities, children can begin to build emotional awareness, practice coping skills, and develop healthier ways to respond to challenges.
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Will my child need to talk about their feelings?
Not necessarily in the same way an adult might. Children communicate differently depending on their age, development, and comfort level. I use approaches suited to a child's developmental needs, including Play Therapy when appropriate, to help them express themselves and gradually build their ability to recognize and communicate their emotions.
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Will parents participate in therapy sessions?
Parent involvement depends on your child's needs, treatment goals, and circumstances. Depending on what is appropriate, the therapeutic process may include time with parents or caregivers, individual time with the child, or family sessions. I can discuss the process with you before treatment begins so you have a clearer understanding of what to expect.
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How long does child therapy take?
There isn't one timeline that works for every child. The length of therapy depends on the concerns we're addressing, your child's needs, treatment goals, and progress over time. I can review goals and progress with you throughout the process as appropriate.
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Is what my child says in therapy confidential?
Privacy is an important part of building trust in therapy. When working with children, I also consider parental rights, applicable laws, and safety-related exceptions to confidentiality. I explain how privacy and parent communication are handled before therapy begins so you can better understand what to expect.
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How can I get started?
The first step is to reach out and share your concerns about your child. I'm happy to answer questions about my services, discuss your child's needs, and help you determine whether my approach may be a good fit for your family. You don't need to have all the answers before starting the conversation.