My clients are children age 10 and younger and their families who want to improve their relationships and the ways they function in this difficult world. I help them understand each other, communicate, process their emotions, deal with life’s problems, and heal from past wounds.

Trauma can affect children’s behaviors and emotions in ways that may be surprising. They may seem withdrawn and depressed, or angry and acting out, or highly emotional and overly eager to please, or defiant and detached — and sometimes all of these in one day! Children who have not experienced trauma may also run this gamut, leaving parents confused.

I use conversation, storytelling, games, and arts & crafts projects to help children learn to cope with what has happened to them, and to process their sometimes-overwhelming emotions.

Parenting is a wonderful and exhausting journey, and all parents could use a little help. Our own past trauma and our own emotions can get in the way of our being the best parents we can be. I offer psychoeducation about trauma and child development, counseling for trauma healing, and parenting skills and techniques.

Diversity Statement

I include, accept, respect, celebrate, and empower individuals and families, including all varieties of race, ethnicity, and national and regional origins; sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation; socioeconomic status, age, and physical attributes and abilities; and religious, political, cultural, and intellectual ideologies and practices. Whoever you are, whomever you love, whatever you believe, however you move, you are welcome at Bright Water Counseling.