In 1990, I opened my psychotherapy practice to families with young children who were having difficulties in their lives. Even though their symptoms and behaviors covered a wide range, they all had something in common – something had not gone well during their prenatal, birth, or newborn experience, and the child and family had never really gotten over it. I began specializing in therapeutic child center family play therapy as a way to work with those very early experiences.

The children taught me a great deal over the years. If we slowed down and allowed the child to lead us in the play, they would reveal their accurate memories and reactions to what had happened while they were in the womb or as a newborn. And with intentional play, we could elegantly help them heal and the whole family experienced more closeness and positive feelings together.  Read more