Creative Therapy for Children & Adolescents
1 in 6 children in the United States ages 2-8 years old has a diagnosed mental, behavioral or developmental disorder, such as ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, or Autism. In the 2 – 17 age range the number is 1 in 10. Research shows that early intervention for children is best because it maximally impacts the tremendously flexible developing child brain; and thus allows children to benefit maximally from intervention
Techniques
Movement, and Play Therapy are natural therapeutic intervention for children with mental, behavioral or developmental disorders. This is because in the first two years while the brain is still developing, babies store memories as muscle memories, that are non-verbal, and in the body. We make very few verbal memories in the first 3-5 years! Then, as we reach adolescence and beyond, we begin to make more verbal (autobiographical, conscious) memories and relatively less “muscle memories”. This means that both young and older children benefit most from interventions that include body based modalities: such as movement and play.
Children who have ADHD can benefit naturally from movement, and play therapy interventions. Movement allows children with ADHD to both express- and satisfy- their body-held needs, and this brings calm to the body. Movement can also be used to help children learn new ways to properly regulate their emotions and behaviors.
Children with trauma or negative experiences (such as attachment problems, parental divorce, neglect) also benefit from movement and play: they have often “stored” their bad experiences as muscle memories and movement helps them to express and release their experiences. The therapist can then help them soothe and heal- their mind and body.
Children with sadness or anxiety who are as young as 2 years old can benefit from movement and play, by engaging in activities that promote success and mastery. Such good experiences teach positive self-messages. Therapists will play games with children to help them experience success, and to help them consciously connect these successes with positive self-messages and feelings of pride. Therapists will also play games to help children work against negative self-messages that can make them feel bad or shameful. Therapists can help children add words (talk therapy: CBT) to their play, and in this way help children tell the story of what happened to them that felt good or bad. The therapist is then able to guide children towards creating more helpful- and accurate- self-messages: so they feel better. This combination of movement, play and talk (CBT) therapy is very powerful in the treatment of ADHD, anxiety, depression and trauma in children.
My Qualifications
Due to my experiences as a therapist and a former genetics research scientist, I have many skills and a wide, integrated knowledge base. These tools make my treatment effective.
1. I am very sensitive to small muscular, mood-based changes in the body. This allows me to help you catch your emotions early and intervene quickly. For example, if I am working with a child with “explosive” emotions, I can detect anger-based changes well before the child is able to do so. This means I can teach them the early signs of their anger, and help them implement coping skills early enough to prevent explosive anger.
2. I am kind, patient, and can always find the good in people, and (where needed) in situations. This ability of mine engenders hope and self-confidence in people who may need to work hard to manage difficult situations and stressors.
3. I am creative. I do not rely only on the tools that are out there. Every person is unique, and my creativity allows me to design and build unique tools that match the needs of each of my clients when the existing tools are insufficient.
4. I am determined.I do not give up when faced with a challenge. Instead I trust in my skills, intelligence, insights, experience, creativity and tools, to find what works.
5. Finally, I am fun. I use humor and playfulness to help my clients have a good experience while learning the skills that are needed; and my clients respond well.