About Child Therapy with Katie
I love my job because I love helping kids and families who feel stuck.
Stuck with anxiety that makes it hard to get to school.
Stuck with OCD rituals that consume way too much time and energy.
Stuck with memories of a frightening event that happened a long time ago, but feels like it was just yesterday.
It’s exciting to see kids get un-stuck as they learn to handle their feelings. It often has a ripple effect on the whole family, helping everyone to get along a little better.
I remember what it feels like to be an anxious kid.
If you asked my parents what I was like as a child, they’d tell you I was super worried and difficult to raise. Your child is unique, and what worked for me might not work for her, but I can imagine how she (and you) might be feeling. I have empathy for what the families I meet are going through, and I have seen counseling and play therapy help anxious kids make big changes in their lives.
I love helping preteen and tween girls learn how to manage strong emotions now, so they’re ready for the stress of the teen years.
I also work well with children who have always been more sensitive and have bigger emotions than other kids.
Kids whose anxiety and behavior problems started after a trauma or stressful event are also a great fit for work with me.
Play is important, but I want to give your child skills, too.
We’re not just going to play Uno and never talk about trauma. It’s important to me that children’s therapy is as sophisticated and effective as what adults get. I hope your child leaves therapy with tools she can use to handle anxiety and stress right now and as she grows up, long after therapy has ended. My approach is playful and creative (there’s a lot of slime making involved) but it’s also based on research.
Kids spend time in both my “talking room” and my “playroom.”
In my talking room, I use a form of therapy called CBT to help children learn coping skills and find solutions to problems. In the playroom, kids can work through their feelings in a child-friendly way, which can boost confidence and self-esteem. Parents are always welcome in my office! I keep parents in the loop on a weekly basis, and I like to hold “parents-only” sessions as needed to make sure what happens in therapy connects to what is happening at home.
I’m a former New Yorker who has worked with kids in all 5 NYC boroughs.
I was a counselor at one of the largest children’s health clinics in New York City, and have used play therapy to help kids from many backgrounds, including children affected by the current refugee crisis in Greece. You can sometimes find me writing about children’s mental health at Moms.com. When I’m not in the therapy office, I am probably playing with my rescue kittens, reading a book, or trying to figure out the rules of Dungeons and Dragons. I love art and theater, and I enjoy bringing creativity into my work with kids through drama and play therapy.
My Education and Credentials
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Registered Drama Therapist, Registered Play Therapist
Master’s in Mental Health Counseling, Brooklyn College
Bachelor in Fine Arts, New York University
Certified in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for kids with PTSD
Trained in Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) for preschoolers with trauma symptoms
States I Can Work In
I’m based in North Carolina, and see many children in my town of Davidson as well as all over the state. I’m also fully licensed to practice in New York, and I can see kids for online therapy in Florida.
Are you looking for counseling for a child who feels stuck? Email or call to learn more—I’m happy to help.
