Teens
It’s not easy being a teenager today. Maybe it never was, as our teen years tend to be a challenging mix of our growing need for autonomy and independence while our brains haven’t yet caught up in the areas of decision-making and reasoning. Teenagers are typically torn between childlike and adult feelings and worlds. While these factors present challenges to both teens and parents, they can also bring an explosion of creativity, introspection, and innovation. The teenage mind is captivating, and as a therapist, I want to help my clients further explore their own feelings and thoughts to better assist in helping them through the challenges they experience during this pivotal time of life.
Sandtray
One of the most effective ways to do this in therapy is through use of a sand tray. Sand tray therapy encourages the client to tell a story with the use of manipulatives (animals, people figurines, trees, vehicles, etc.). This allows a client to express feelings they either may not have been aware of or may not have the words to articulate. Once the client creates a scene in the sand tray, the therapist and the client can discuss it’s meaning to the client. Sand tray is a wonderful tool to bridge the gap between play and talk therapy. I would love to talk to you more about this method. If you are interested in learning more or scheduling a session, please give me a call!
Ashley Barkley, M.Ed, LPC
940-222-8703 ext 701