Children have to complete a variety of developmental tasks before they grow up and reach maturity. During childhood, kids are starting to identify and recognize who they are in the world and who they are in relation to their parents, families, peers, teachers, and the community. They are learning about their bodies and how to be within them. Childhood is a very crucial time of development for all of us. Our experiences make us the adults we are today.

All children are impacted by life events and they are especially impacted by what happens to them as well as what happens to those within their world. When a significant negative life event occurs, their development and functioning may be impacted, as can relationships, their sense of safety and security and overall self-esteem. Adversity can be impactful. Children are often unintentionally overlooked by adults in terms of their thoughts, feelings and worries and ultimately, behavioral concerns develop leaving parents wondering, “What is going on?”

When behavioral or emotional concerns develop, children between the ages of 3 to 12 years old are best suited to receive play therapy as an intervention. Play Therapy can also be used to help adolescents and adults as well as adults living with developmental disabilities.

Play helps provide some natural psychological distance from issues. When receiving play therapy, the language spoken is more comfortable and freeing for children to express their thoughts and feelings and a variety of ways.

At Sunshine Psychological, children, parents and families are my passion. I love supporting, encouraging, challenging and guiding my clients towards growth. I love equipping everyone with skills to help overcome barriers. Childhood is a special time of life, I want to help wherever I can to re-establish growth and development just as it is meant to be.