I am fascinated with the magic of childhood - how children learn and communicate through play. As a teacher and counselor I've learned to be present with children and adolescents to help them feel important and understood. Many times children aren't developmentally ready to "talk it out" but instead "play out" their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I provide a safe, non-judgmental environment for children to express themselves, explore feelings, and practice coping skills. When working with adolescents, I meet their needs through a variety of developmentally appropriate interventions.
I believe in the power of play - to heal, to learn, to grow. Play therapy has proven to be successful in helping children cope with anxiety, depression, trauma, family changes, school issues and many other difficulties. I've used play therapy techniques for the past decade and will soon finish coursework to become a Registered Play Therapist.
I take an enthusiastic, compassionate approach to counseling building trusting relationships with my clients and their parents. My goal is to partner with children and their caregivers (even school staff, if parents choose) to problem-solve and develop coping skills to help your child "grow through what they go through".
Please contact me to set up an appointment or a free 15-minute phone consultation to determine how I can best meet you and your child's needs.
Pam is in-network with United Healthcare
SPECIALIZATION AREAS:
Registered Play Therapist
Young Children to Adolescents
Educational Issues (504 plans, IEPs, etc)
Trauma-Informed Care
Anxiety
Parent Education
Animal-Assisted Therapy
Social Skills
ADD/ADHD
Asperger's/Autism Spectrum Disorder
CERTIFICATION/LICENSE:
Licensed Professional Counselor, State of Missouri
Certified School Counselor, K-12
Certified Elementary Teacher, 1-6
Play Therapy certification in progress
EDUCATION:
M.A. in Counseling (UMKC, 2007)
B.S. in Elementary Education (University of Missouri, 2001)