Therapy with children is different because they tend not to come to therapy out of their own insight and volition. Also, they are not smaller adults, so they will not tend to sit down and talk about their problems. Rather, they will play in the present moment. That's why play therapists say: Play is the child's first language (e.g. Axline). Within their play, themes emerge, in which the child integrates his emotions and comes to understand what happened in his life.
"Play therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development." (cacpt.com) I assess, treat and consult with parents children and teens: - who are aggressive and disruptive - who have ADHD - who are on the Autism Spectrum - who have experienced sexual or violent trauma, who have PTSD - who have extreme tantrums
I offer a variety of child and family psychotherapy approaches including sandtray, Theraplay, Filial Therapy, family therapy, child-centred play therapy, puppetry, and storytelling. I am the only therapist in Halifax who has completed all three certification levels of the Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT).