It’s Just WEIRD!

I always hear from the kids that I work with that coming into therapy for the first time is just weird. You’re coming in to talk to a stranger about all this deep, personal stuff. About all the stuff in your life that isn’t going well. Often because your parent thinks you should.

Even when kids want to, it’s still weird – and I totally agree with you. The good news is that it’s only weird for a little bit. Because I’ll get to know you, and you’ll get to know me. You’ll start to realize we have stuff in common even! And better yet, you’ll start to feel better.

Our hour together is your hour, and that’s how I look at it. What do you need today? Therapy doesn’t have to be like it is in movies or on tv, although I do have a couch. Each session can be different – sometimes we’ll play, sometimes we’ll talk, sometimes we’ll do a combination of things.

Some sessions will be more challenging than others. You might cry. You might leave mad, or upset, or happy, lighter, heavier. I’ll push you when you need to be pushed, and I’ll support you, and challenge you and encourage you.

We’ll be a team each session. You can expect that if you give me willingness to change, I’ll match that enthusiasm and put everything I have into helping you reach your goals.

My goal is to help your child reach theirs.

Kids are so resilient and amazing – they know what they want, they just aren’t sure how to go about getting there. That’s how I view myself working with your child and your family – as a guide on the journey to developing the person they want to be, the person you’ve raised them to become. Helping them create a map.

How is therapy helpful – and how can I facilitate?

When naming my practice, I wanted something that resonated with my own theory on how helpful therapy is and what my role is in that process. I started to think about what it meant.

To me, being a therapist really is riding that rollercoaster with your child and your family.

I will be teaching you all to pull the lap bar down tight and put your hands up. My role isn’t to take away all the challenging parts, the twists and turns.

Rather, I will help you feel it all, know when to put your hands up and when to hang on tight. When to get back in line and do it all over again, and when to sit down for a while.

Now is a good time…

Let’s do this together; let’s talk.