Play Therapy for Deeply Feeling Kids.
Helping preschool and early elementary children make sense of big feelings, anxiety, sensitivity, and behaviors that are hard to understand.
Some kids feel deeply, react quickly, and get overwhelmed fast. That doesn’t mean something is wrong with them. It means they need support that fits how their brain and body work.
I work primarily with children ages 3–10, with a particular focus on preschool and early elementary children.
Some children are easy to understand. Others aren’t.
They may be anxious, intensely sensitive, rigid, explosive, cautious, impulsive, or completely different at home than they are at school. Sometimes it’s clear what’s going on. Sometimes it isn’t.
That’s where I come in.
Through play, observation, conversation, and developmentally appropriate assessment when needed, I help parents understand what is underneath the behavior, and together we figure out what their child actually needs.
Parents often come saying…
“Something is off, but I don’t know what it is.”
“Everyone sees a different kid.”
“We’ve tried strategies — nothing sticks.”
That’s where my work begins!
Does this sound like your child?
- Your preschooler has enormous reactions to seemingly small things.
- Your child is unusually sensitive, cautious, intense, or rigid.
- You aren't sure whether you're seeing anxiety, temperament, developmental differences, or a combination.
- You don't necessarily need a diagnosis. You need to understand your child.
- You've tried parenting strategies, consequences, charts, rewards, or reassurance. But you're still stuck.
The Positive Insights Difference
ASSESSMENT AS A ROADMAP NOT JUST A DIAGNOSIS
Understanding your child is the foundation for meaningful change.
DEVELOPMENTAL, BOTTOM-UP APPROACH
Grounded in play, nervous system regulation, and real-world functioning.
ASSESSOR & TREATING THERAPIST - A STRONG INTEGRATION
An integrated approach that brings clarity to both assessment and therapy.
HOW FAMILIES START TO WORK WITH ME
There is no single “right” pathway. Here’s how it typically looks:
During intake, we determine whether therapy alone is appropriate.
If assessment is indicated:
- I help families understand their options
- Referrals for outside assessment are always provided
- If assessment is offered through my practice, it occurs before therapy begins
Please note: I do not assess children I am already treating in therapy.
Families may be seeking:
- diagnostic clarity
- school guidance
- a deeper developmental understanding
- a roadmap for next steps
Some children return to their current providers with a clearer plan.
Others transition into therapy when appropriate.
When it’s clinically appropriate and ethically sound, assessment can naturally inform therapy — creating continuity, depth, and momentum.