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Services for Preschoolers

Preschoolers' rapid physical, verbal, social and cognitive development 

can present challenges that leave parents bewildered and exhausted.  Common issues in preschoolers include:

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  • difficulty conquering developmental milestones such as potty-training and establishing healthy sleeping and eating habits

  • behavioral issues such as tantrums, stubbornness, whining, trouble following directions and/or obeying rules

  • anxieties/worries including separation anxiety, extreme shyness, excessive fears

  • peer conflict involving aggressive behavior, difficulty sharing and/or taking turns

  • adjustment issues associated with a new sibling, transitioning to a different classroom or school, parental separation or divorce

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Working through these issues involves close collaboration with parents/caregivers.  My role is like being a guide on a hiking expedition: I help families recognize useful signposts and I share strategies for navigating obstacles, so that caregivers can "go solo" with confidence and enthusiasm.

When working with preschoolers, traditional talk therapy is often a poor fit.  Instead, I rely on a combination of play therapy, therapeutic games, and expressive art activities (e.g., drawing, painting, modeling with clay) to enhance existing strengths and develop new skills.

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Play therapy has been shown to help young children understand and express their feelings, increase self-confidence, work through emotional issues and negative behavior, and improve self-control.  In some cases, I use play therapy solely during sessions in my office, and sometimes I teach parents how to incorporate play therapy techniques at home to facilitate positive changes.

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To learn more about my overall therapeutic style, please click here

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