Counselor/Play Therapist

Barb is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, Registered Play Therapist/Supervisor, and Certified Trauma & Loss Clinical Specialist. As she helps the child through the healing process she uses a Family-Based model that incorporates Sensory activities and Experiential Play Therapy focusing on the developmental needs of the child. She primarily works with children from infancy through age ten.

Her life purpose is to promote healing and restore joy through God’s nurturing spirit to children and families who are experiencing struggles in their lives.

Why Play Therapy:
Play is a natural way for children to express their experiences as well as their feelings. Play therapy allows children to play out their developmental needs, relationship issues, emotions, past traumatic experiences and sense of well being through symbolic themes with toys and play materials. Through the play therapy process I help children regain a sense of empowerment, reframe intense emotions related to stressful or traumatic experiences and replace it with a restored internal sense of well being.

Play therapy has been found to be effective for children who are experiencing:

• Excessive anger, worry, sadness, fear, or mood swings
• Aggressive behavior (hurting others or self)
  
• Relationship difficulties with peers or adults
• Anxiety including separation anxiety
• Excessive shyness
• Behavioral regression
• Low self esteem
• Learning or other school problems
• Sleeping, eating or elimination problems
• Preoccupation with sexual behavior
• Difficulty adjusting to family changes.
• Physical symptoms such as headaches or stomachaches that have no medical cause.

Other specialty areas include the treatment of life stressors and trauma, such as:

• parental divorce or separation
• adoption
• foster care placement
• blended family issues
• separation due to military deployment
• loss issues related to death or moves
• accidents
• fears associated with hospitalization or medical or illness stress
• neglect
• emotional, physical or sexual abuse
• attachment issues
• domestic violence

How Do I Prepare My Child For Therapy:

You may tell your child that s/he will be spending time with me in a playroom where there are toys and sand to play with. If your child wants to know why s/he is going to the playroom, you may say something like, "When things are hard for you at home (or at school), sometimes it helps to have a special place to play and a special person to talk to." I provide a Child Centered/Family Based Therapy Model. This means parents will be included in the therapy process as indicated by the child and determined necessary to promote or enhance the healing process. Because parents/caregivers are an integral part of the healing process I will share general themes, helpful responses and interventions you can implement at home as well as keep you updated on progress in therapy. I may also facilitate family play therapy as needed, in which all or some family members may participate to work toward therapeutic success for the child.

To find out more about Play Therapy contact me at Morning Joy Child & Family Therapy at 504 19th Ave SW, Suite 3 Willmar, MN. Phone: 320-235-KIDS (5437).