My most concentrated specialty is supporting transgender children 10 and under. These children are children first, and so we are dealing with the same issues that arise for all children – anxiety, emotion regulation, navigating social relationships, challenges at school, family relationships, etc. Aside from that, I focus on identity exploration, gender expression, navigating transitions, parent support, school planning, and communicating with others about a child’s transgender identity. I also do a lot of work with this age group discussing puberty and the changes that are on the horizon for these children in a very factual manner, devoid of shame or embarrassment.

I work with children 18 months to 18 years old, and I also do work with families of children under 18 months old who have medical or developmental concerns. I love working with transgender or gender expansive children and LGBTQ+ families, and I also enjoy supporting children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), developmental delays or disabilities, histories of trauma (including medical trauma), and other emotional/behavioral challenges. I value caregivers as experts on their families. I partner with caregivers to make a plan that will benefit the whole family.

Children are constantly communicating with the people around them. When children are having difficulties or challenges, the first step is always to learn to listen more deeply to the child and then to move forward from there. The right support for children and families can bolster resilience and allow them to thrive no matter what challenge they face. I use a strengths-based approach to use what already works well for a child or within a family system as a foundation for further growth and development.

I work primarily from attachment/attunement, child-centered, sensorimotor, narrative, and solution-focused theoretical perspectives. From those foundations, relationships take center stage. A main goal for the therapy I offer is to enhance and deepen family relationships while increasing positive interactions, enjoyment, and well-being.