There are many developmental theories that I embrace, especially in working with children and adolescents.
These theories tend to focus on the physical, emotional, and social developments of the child. In counseling children, I draw from theories such as Freud’s ideas on predictable developmental stages children go through to learn how to regulate pleasurable actions and thoughts, and Erik Erikson’s stages on human development, which looks at skill sets that are important for the child to master in order to function at his or her best. Challenges with mastering these functions may lead the child to experience feelings of insecurity, self-doubt, loneliness, and low self-esteem.
My role is to help your child learn how to work through personal challenges in order to make healthy advances, preparing him or her for future successes.
I also therapeutically assess cognitive development and abilities. Children are not little adults, and they do not think like us. Children go through qualitative and quantitative stages of learning; the amount of information they acquire and how they think about this information evolves as they age and mature. There are also differences between the chronological and emotional ages of a child based on his or her developmental experiences.
Children with development disabilities may progress through these stages at a slower pace and sometimes may not reach the higher levels of learning about, knowing, and understanding the world around them as compared to their age mates. These facts are important to consider and accommodate when caring for a child with special needs.
In my work with children and adolescents, I take into consideration their social development.
The early relationship experiences that a child endures have a significant impact on their social relationships throughout life. Breaches in their attachment with their primary caregivers, and experiences of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect, lend to distrust, isolation, emotional dysregulation, and insecurities. I take these issues into account as I work towards healing your child’s social and emotional wounds, and helping them restore their sense of safety and self-confidence.
Lastly, I embrace social learning theory which promotes that children learn from watching the people around them, kids and adults included. While children may learn from external reinforcements such as consequences and rewards, children also learn from experiencing intrinsic rewards such as pride, satisfaction, achievements, and friendship. I consider these elements when a child may need help with his or her social skills.
I honor meeting the child at their level.
I believe in the importance of providing a safe, nurturing, and warm environment where they can establish trust. My hope is that by joining with them, in their natural mode of expression, and at their own pace, I can help them resolve stress and establish improved self confidence, competency, and hope for the future. For these reasons, I may use Play Therapy to assess and nurture children’s development; their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; and their understanding of the environment around them. This modality is effective in helping a child work through difficult emotions, resolve trauma, foster growth, and establish a greater understanding of their relationships with others.