frequently asked questions

The honest answer is it depends. Every child is unique and the length of therapy is influenced by many factors, including your child's goals, the concerns they are facing, their support system, and how they respond to therapy.

Some children benefit from just a handful of sessions. For example, a child processing a single stressful or traumatic experience with Lifespan Integration, or one who simply needs a safe space to work through a specific challenge, may reach their goals relatively quickly.

Other children benefit from longer-term therapy, especially if they're working through ongoing anxiety, depression, behavioral concerns, trauma, or emotional regulation difficulties. In these cases, it's difficult to predict exactly how many sessions will be needed.

We'll regularly review your child's progress and adjust their treatment plan as their needs and goals evolve. My goal is to provide the right amount of support, not more or less than your child needs.

Caregivers are invited to join the beginning of the initial appointment to help their child become familiar with the playroom and feel comfortable. Once your child is ready, you'll step out so we can begin building the trusting therapeutic relationship that is central to child-centered play therapy. In subsequent appointments the caregiver does not join the appointment.

In child-centered play therapy, the relationship between the therapist and child is a key part of the healing and growth process. Children express themselves more freely through play when they have a safe, accepting space of their own. This privacy encourages independence, emotional expression, problem-solving, and self-confidence while allowing the child to lead the therapeutic process at their own pace. 

Integrative counseling is flexible and tailored to each child or teen's needs. While most sessions are individual, there may be times when a caregiver is invited to join by the child or the therapist when it is therapeutically beneficial.

Caregiver involvement is flexible and tailored to each child or teen's needs and individual circumstances. Parents and caregivers often play a helpful role, especially in the beginning, by sharing memories and helping create a timeline of important life events. 

As LI therapy continues, we'll find the level of involvement that feels right for your child. Some kids and teens like having a caregiver with them for part or all of a session, while others prefer more privacy. I always honor your child's comfort and preferences in the process.

I meet with parents/caregivers periodically (parent session) to discuss progress towards treatment goals, answer questions, and provide practical strategies to support your child's emotional growth at home. This may include guidance on strengthening connection, responding to behaviors, and adjusting parenting approaches to best meet your child's needs.

To help you child feel safe and build trust, I keep the specific details of what they say and play in session confidential unless they give me permission to share. Instead, I focus on sharing themes, progress, and recommendations that support your child's growth.

If there is an immediate safety concern, I will share the necessary information to help keep your child or others safe. Whenever appropriate, I will encourage your child to be part of those conversations.

Parents/caregivers are an important part of a teen's growth and healing process, and I believe therapy is most effective when families work together. At the same time, teens benefit from having a private, trusting space where they can speak openly.

In Washington state, teens age 13 and older have the legal right to consent to their own outpatient mental health treatment. This means I generally need your teen's permission before discussing the content of therapy outside of scheduling or billing.

With your teen's consent, I'm happy to collaborate with caregivers, provide updates, discuss ways to support your teen at home, and offer guidance on parenting strategies that may strengthen your relationship and your teen's progress.

If there is an immediate safety concern, I may involve caregivers or other appropriate supports without your teen's permission. Whenever possible, I will encourage your teen to be part of those conversations.

Yes, my office space is within a shared business space with an insurance agency, and there is a common restroom available for clients.

Children/teens attending therapy may access the restroom directly from the therapy office at any time during their session.

If caregivers need to access the restoom while their child is in session, it is generally accessible Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm through the insurance agency's front entrance. The restroom is located in the back right corner of the shared space.

If the appointemnt is outside of those hours, please let me know when I open the door for the session and I'll be happy to help you access the restroom in needed.

The transition from the end of a session to the car ride home can be an important part of the therapy process. Many children and teens need time to transition after as ession, so don't be surprised if they don't want to talk right away. Trust that meaningful work often happens even if it isn't obvious. 

Helpful approaches:

• Let your child or teen take the lead in deciding whether to talk about their session.

• Offer a simple supportive question like "how are you feeling?" or "Is there anything you'd like to share with me today?"

• Respect their choice if they say they don't want to talk.

• Notice and validate their emotions without trying to fix them.

• Enjoy quiet time together, engage in a calming activity, or listening to child's preferred music on the way home.

Try to avoid:

• Asking for a play-by-play of hte session or pressuring them to share details.

• Assuming that a quiet child or teen means had a "bad" session.

• Correcting, minimizing, or immediately trying to solve what they choose to share.

• Using information shared in therapy to discipline or criticize them.

Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy

The Whole Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel M.D.

Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel J. Siegel M.D.

No Drama Discipline By Daniel J. Siegel M.D. & Tina Payne Bryson PhD