Children's Therapy

Raising Happy Healthy Children Through Therapy in Fair Lawn, NJ

children—Life transitions in Fair Lawn, NJ

As a children's therapist, I have believed that Play Therapy gives the best insight into a child's behavior. “Play is a child's language and Toys are the child's words” (Landreth, 2002).


You are not alone in your struggle. Every child is unique, and they do not come with a How-To manual. Children often times don't have the awareness or ability to speak directly about what is troubling them. With the development of a trusting relationship that is nurtured through play, children can overcome their distress. It offers children the chance to play out their conflicts and find ways to gain insight, mastery, cope better and solve problems.

Support for Parents

When parents bring their children to counselling they can expect to feel understood and supported in finding solutions to help everyone feel better. They can often learn how conflicts from their own childhoods with their caregivers relate to how they parent their own children. Because children are often reactionary, parent effectiveness training is frequently introduced. Oftentimes, parents may come into their own therapy as a result of this work.

Adolescent Therapy

When starting therapy with adolescents and teens, I will speak to the parents to provide developmental history and share their concerns for treatment. If the adolescent is 15 years or older, I will rely on them to convey their own concerns. From time to time, I will meet with parents to give them a sense of how things are going and for additional help. Family therapy sessions take place as needed when appropriate and if the adolescent is willing.

Social Skills Groups (7-13 Year-Old Children & Teens)

The Children Learning Interpersonal Mind/Body Skills (CLIMB) program was developed for children/adolescents from 7-14 years old who struggle with some of the following problems:
  • difficulty reading social cues
  • joining ongoing groups
  • poor impulse control
  • little frustration tolerance
  • struggling to handle conflict with peers
  • being bullied or bullying
  • coping with shyness or anxiety
  • or having few friends.
The foundation of the program is based on Second Step, an early intervention method. Core topics include Empathy training, Impulse Control, Problem Solving and Anger Management. Weekly skills are taught through psycho-education and then are expanded on by using different therapeutic treatment modalities such as Art, Music, Drama and Play. Self-awareness and self-control are practiced each session with Mindfulness and Movement.

Individual and parent counseling may be offered in addition to the group. We work together to help transfer learning from the group to home and school.

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