Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Port Orchard, WA.

In working with children, I utilize a psychodynamic modality of treatment, including play therapy, as the primary way of purposefully engaging your child to discover and understand more about the cause of their current difficulties. I typically provide a treatment plan for the parent/s that details what it is I am doing and why. I also believe it is incredibly important in working with children to include the parent/s as often as possible and include that in the treatment plan. If your child is struggling in a way that is confusing to you and causing you distress, it may be helpful to discuss further and find out if your child could benefit from meeting with me.

We all want the best for our kids. Our heart's desire is that they grow to be both healthy and happy. Sometimes there are difficult or traumatic experiences or hardships your children go through, or behaviors or emotions they exhibit that make you really worry about them. You know they need some extra help, support and guidance to move forward successfully. Our counselors at Mill Creek Family Services are trained and experienced working with young children in ways that facilitate the healing they need. We help your kids through the tough times, as they express their feelings and learn the skills needed to cope, overcome challenges and prosper in their lives.

Is your child bullied or isolated from others? Is your child reluctant to go to school, has trouble making friends, or seems withdrawn and lonely? Many children have trouble with self confidence, anxiety or social skills. Improving self esteem, emotional regulation, and social skills deficits in the younger years reduces difficulties later. We all want the best for our children, and as a parent myself I know how it can hurt to watch your child suffer and not know how to help. Find out how your child can be helped by in-person counselling, online coaching, or online educational programs.

This practice does not work with clients younger than six years of age, due to the developmental issues often attached to younger children. Play therapy, coloring books, drawing, board games, and other options that are both age appropriate and useful in helping child clients to open up are utilized. Children are free to bring any game or toys they wish to play with in therapy, and can even teach the counselor. This gives the opportunity to examine the child's level of social engagement, as well as other clinical issues that might need to be addressed. Involvement from the care givers of the child are hugely important in developing a care plan.

Many times, child therapists overdo the family system in their quest to seek effective solutions for emotional, learning or behavioral concerns with young children. And many times doctors overpathologize issues that shouldn’t be medicated necessarily. This leaves parents wondering what is the best route for their child? Introducing brainwave optimization technology. A fast, effective, natural, and less expensive way to allow your child's brain to make the optimizing changes it desires to make---on its own! Without any external force, opinion, medication, diagnostic, etc. Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

Dr. Terri Buysse provides play therapy to meet young children at their developmental level and speak their language to help them express their feelings and to help them learn new skills. She also works with the parent(s) to help them understand what is going on for their child and learn positive parenting skills so they can support their child through difficult times and be the very best parents they want to be.

In therapy with children, one of the most important facets is that the child feels safe and understood. We strive to assist children in working through issues in their own language by providing a comfortable environment and a set of skills and tools that we explore and learn to apply together. We value collaborating with parents, family, and caregivers to promote healing and growth.