SERVICES PROVIDED

PLAY THERAPY FOR CHILDREN, Ages 3-12 in a fully equipped play room.   (Puppets, sand-trays, paint, clay, art, doll house, dress-up, therapeutic games.)
Play is the child’s natural form of communication.  During their play, children reveal unconscious fears, worries, thoughts and wishes.  The toys are the child’s words. 
As trained play therapists, Arlene and Michelle are able to read the meaning of the child’s play, and as patterns or themes emerge, share their thoughts with parents.  A plan is then developed to work toward a healing process both at home and in the play therapy room.

COUPLE COUNSELING:  If it “isn’t working”, let us help you “do something different!”  Concentrating on brief, solution-focused therapy.  We get to the heart of the issues quickly and find new strategies for solving the problems.  (Many like this style because, while it is therapy, it seems more like coaching.)

CO-PARENTING STRATEGIES FOR DIVORCED COUPLES:  “KEEPING KIDS OUT OF THE CONFLICT”.  Each partner is seen individually.  Material covered during sessions is structured, with supportive discussion, handouts and video vignettes to cover effective strategies addressing significant issues faced by divorced couples co-parenting their children.  In addition, each session allows time for individual therapy.  We guarantee confidentiality, yet make sure that both partners have been exposed to the same basic concepts, thereby providing couples complementary and effective tools for keeping the children out of the friction.

INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOTHERAPY:  You know best what is hurting and what needs fixing.  We are a deeply attuned listeners who don’t diagnose you or tell you what you should do.  We hear what you can’t quite say, understanding and clarifying the meaning and feeling of what you reveal; then together make some choices and a plan to make changes happen.

FAMILY THERAPY:  When any one person in a family hurts, everyone is hurting. Family therapy is provided at the office, with everyone who lives in the household invited to attend (except children under 3 years old).  By building a positive relationship with the entire family, we direct new and different ways for the family members to relate to one another.  The idea is to help the dancers dance, and we are the choreographers.  These sessions are usually 90 minutes long, and scheduled evenings or Saturdays.

PARENTING COACHING (PHONE SUPPORT):  As a licensed marriage & family therapist, as well as an experienced parenting coach, Arlene brings parenting coaching directly into your home, or to your desk at work, via telephone and email, at your convenience.  You do not have to travel.  She will address your specific children’s behavioral concerns with warmth, yet practical child-rearing advice, guidance and assistance.  Parenting coaching is for parents of children, pre-school through adolescence. Parents contract for four (4) telephone-coaching sessions per month, with free e-mail between sessions as needed.

Complimentary coaching:  If you think parenting coaching might be what you’re looking for, call for a free 20-minute session to discover if we are a good match.  Call or email to set up a mutually convenient time for this initial conversation.