helping children cope with change

Family changes such as divorce, blending families, death, or moving homes can be particularly hard for children. 

In cases of families splitting apart, children often feel an undue sense of responsibility, the need to choose a side, or a feeling of needing to please everyone. 

Children often feel powerless and confused by these changes.  Being developmentally unable to reconcile these feelings, children can turn them inward and become anxious or depressed.  They can also be turned outward, leading to outbursts or other challenging behaviors. 

I can help children navigate these changes by having real and unbiased discussions of what is happening and where their responsibilities begin and end.  I can help them learn to put words with their feelings so that they can verbally process what they are thinking and feeling instead of acting it out in unhealthy ways.  With play therapy, the toys become the words and the play becomes the language.