Services for Children
New clients: At this time, I do not have openings for new therapy clients. If you would like to be added to the waiting list, please contact me.
Play Therapy
Play is a crucial way that children learn and express themselves. Play therapists are licensed mental health professionals who are trained to use play to assist children to heal and to learn new ways of coping with challenges.
Michelle is a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist®. Synergetic Play Therapists® believe that “the therapist is the most important toy in the playroom.” Through her relationships with child clients, she helps children learn to regulate their emotions and behaviors.
Michelle works with children with a variety of emotional and behavioral concerns. She accepts children up to age 12 as new clients.
She specializes in working with neurodivergent children (children with brain-based differences), including sensory issues, learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism.
Services for Neurodivergent Children
Michelle specializes in working with children with neurological and behavior differences and their families. People generally regard her as “neurotypical,” which means that she has a style of functioning that falls within conventional social standards.
It is Michelle’s belief that brain differences are a normal part of our diversity as a species, not conditions that need to be cured. She embraces the concept of neurodiversity, which is aptly described by the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN):
Neurodiversity means that no two brains are exactly the same. Every person has things they are good at and things they need help with, and there is no such thing as a “normal” brain. The neurodiversity movement says that people with brain-based disabilities (like autism, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, or mental health disabilities) should be accepted and included in society just like neurotypical people (people without brain-based disabilities). https://autisticadvocacy.org/about-asan/position-statements/
Expectations to conform and mismatches between the environment and the person can overwhelm the ability of neurodivergent people to cope. Michelle supports healthy growth and development and helps children and families to heal from overwhelming experiences. She focuses on increasing nervous system regulation, and educating parents about supporting their children’s regulation.
Michelle is one of a limited number of mental health professionals in the U.S. with expertise in working with children who fit the PDA profile of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Parent/Caregiver Support
Michelle believes that parents and caregivers are experts on their own children, and are thus an essential part of a child’s therapy process. By working collaboratively, the short amount of time that she is able to spend with your child can have the greatest possible impact following therapy sessions.
Michelle provides guidance and support to empower parents to maximize their child’s growth and healing. You can expect to spend 10 minutes with her each time your child comes to an appointment. If your child is unable to wait independently, phone calls or virtual meetings can be scheduled to discuss the progress your child is making. Monthly parent meetings outside of your child’s therapy time are also available.