Therapy for CHILDREN In Watertown, CT
(ages 5 and up)
Supporting Children, Empowering Families
Struggles at School
The phone rings and it is your child’s school…AGAIN! You want to answer with “What happened now?” Your child is having a hard time. They say school is too hard, boring, or they feel nervous. They get distracted by thoughts about things that have happened in the past, current stressors, and/or are worried about what may happen in the future. Sometimes they just lose their train of thought and don’t even realize it.
At home you repeat yourself for what feels like the like one hundredth time. They aren’t getting along with their siblings. They put up a fight about going to school, or other places. It seems like the only thing they want to do is play video games or watch Youtube and other social media.
You know your child wants to do well at home and at school. They know the difference between right and wrong, but when they start to feel frustrated or worried all of that goes out the window. They either act out or shut down. When you ask them why they reacted that way they say, “I don’t know.”
Struggles at Home or in the Family
Your child is doing well at school. Their grades are good. Their teachers have only positive things to say about them, but at home you notice they are withdrawn and do not like to talk about how they are feeling.
Maybe there have been some changes in the family such as a recent loss, divorce/separation/incarceration, birth of a sibling, etc. You have tried to be as supportive as possible, but they still will not open up to you or acknowledge that anything is wrong.
How Can I Help?
You are thinking about finding a therapist but the last thing you or your child want is another person telling you what to do, and therapy sounds even more boring than school!
But who says therapy cannot be fun? I use play, arts and crafts, dance, movement, compassion, empathy, and a sense of humor to connect with children and teens.
Play is how we learn to solve problems, communicate, and develop new skills. The more fun you have doing something, the more you want to do it.
Clearly, there will be times when play and humor are not appropriate, and we will need to talk about serious topics. That is incorporated into our work as well. It is important to know when to be playful, and when to take things more seriously.
I help children, teens, and families with:
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Identifying the root cause of their behaviors
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Learning strategies to improve self-control & focus
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Identifying feelings, & techniques to cope with feelings
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Talking about things that have happened in the past, how they are impacting them now, and how to move forward
There is no such thing as a “right or wrong” feeling, but we can learn to handle our feelings in the right ways.
Parent/Caregiver Involvement
I work closely with parents/caregivers, offering guidance and practical strategies to support your child's growth at home, school, and beyond.
I encourage parents/caregivers to be an active participant in your child’s healing journey. You are welcome to join sessions with them, as well as schedule sessions with me on your own so we can discuss the best ways to support them.
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Our Goals for your Child’s Future
Let's work together to help your child feel more confident, calm, and connected so they can grow into the best version of themselves.
They may never find school to be easy or exciting, but it also does not have to be such a struggle.
There may be times when they feel frustrated with their siblings, or overwhelmed with life, but you will both have tools to work through the hard stuff, and over time the good times will outshine the difficult ones.
