Melissa Wright

Working with child issues in therapy involves creating a safe, nurturing space where children feel comfortable expressing themselves. I use age-appropriate techniques, such as play therapy with CBT to help children explore their emotions and experiences.Collaboration with parents and caregivers is also crucial to reinforce progress made in therapy, ensuring that the child receives consistent support in their daily life.

Working with children who experience anxiety requires patience, understanding, and a tailored approach to their unique needs. Techniques such as cognitive-behavioral strategies, mindfulness, and relaxation exercises can be helpful in teaching children to manage their anxiety. The goal is to empower the child with coping skills and confidence to navigate their anxiety, fostering resilience and emotional well-being.

Working with children who have depression through play therapy involves using the natural language of play to help them express emotions they might not yet have the words for. Play therapy provides a safe, non-threatening environment where children can explore their feelings, develop coping skills, and gain insight into their emotions. The therapeutic process allows children to process difficult experiences at their own pace, fostering self-expression and emotional healing.

Working with children or teens who experience anxiety requires patience, understanding, and a tailored approach to their unique needs. Techniques such as cognitive-behavioral strategies, mindfulness, and relaxation exercises can be helpful in teaching children to manage their anxiety. The goal is to empower the child or teen with coping skills and confidence to navigate their anxiety, fostering resilience and emotional well-being.

Working with child issues in therapy involves creating a safe, nurturing space where children feel comfortable expressing themselves. I use age-appropriate techniques, such as play therapy with CBT to help children explore their emotions and experiences. Collaboration with parents and caregivers is also crucial to reinforce progress made in therapy, ensuring that the child receives consistent support in their daily life.

Working with children who have depression through play therapy involves using the natural language of play to help them express emotions they might not yet have the words for. Play therapy provides a safe, non-threatening environment where children can explore their feelings, develop coping skills, and gain insight into their emotions. The therapeutic process allows children or teens to process difficult experiences at their own pace, fostering self-expression and emotional healing.

Working with sandtray and play therapy for kids and teens offers a powerful, creative medium for exploring emotions, resolving conflicts, and fostering self-awareness. In sandtray therapy, children and adolescents use miniature figures and objects to create scenes in a tray filled with sand, symbolically representing their inner world. It’s particularly effective in helping clients process trauma, navigate social challenges, and build emotional resilience to work through their identified needs.

Using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with kids and teens in therapy involves helping them understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. CBT is highly effective for addressing issues such as anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems by teaching young clients to identify and challenge negative or distorted thinking patterns. The structured, goal-oriented nature of CBT empowers them to actively participate in their own healing process.

Play therapy creates a safe, supportive environment where children and adolescents can express emotions, explore problems, and experiment with solutions in a non-threatening way. For teens, who may feel more guarded, integrating creative play activities can lower defenses and encourage open communication. I tend to use more directive activities based on the age and concerns the kid or teen is experiencing. Kids and teens generally like coming to therapy when play therapy is used.