Play Therapy in Berwyn, PA

I began my career as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Hypnotherapist (CHT) later in life, and I have great passion for the work I do. I have 10+ years of experience as a therapist for children/teens, adults, and families. I have worked in outpatient, school-based, in-home, and community settings. With younger children and parents, I use the principles of Parent-Child Interactive Therapy, focusing on relationship-building through play. For family therapy, I use a relational approach based on positive communication, mutual respect, and active listening skills. I enjoy guiding my clients toward desired change.

No matter what life brings you, treatment can bring you "home." All walks of life and all experiences are unique, so your treatment will be tailored to fit for you. Direction, support, guidance and healing available now.

Michele was raised in eastern Pennsylvania where she received both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in psychology. She has held a Pennsylvania counseling license since 2002 and Michele is an Advanced ART Practitioner. She is the founder of Heart of the Matter LLC. Michele focuses on a broad range of treatment issues including PTSD, Trauma, Depression, Anxiety, OCD from preschool through adult clients. Also, Michele works with families to improve family dynamics and relationships.

Are you struggling in your relationships? Maybe disruptive behavior is making it difficult to connect with your child or teenager. Maybe you are struggling in your relationship with your partner or even in the relationship you have with yourself. Hi! I’m Samantha and I work together with my clients, who include children, adolescents, adults, and families, to find realistic and creative solutions to the struggles they are facing. I enjoy drawing on the strengths of my clients and being a part of their journey of making the changes they want in their lives.

We are child-adolescent art & play therapy specialists who help clients ages 3-22 develop powerful coping skills to overcome challenges to succeed at home, school, & in relationships! Parents who engage us in therapy seek an effective therapist with whom their child will feel supremely comfortable & not resist. You found us! We KNOW how children think, & our waiting rooms, offices, & approaches are designed to help children & teens enjoy therapy. We treat a range of emotional-behavioral challenges & have a sub-specialty in social skills groups for neurodiverse children. Located in Haverford, Paoli, Blue Bell, & Center City.

I am an art & play therapist & child-adolescent specialist who helps children and parents develop powerful coping skills to overcome challenges & succeed at home, school, & in relationships. Parents who engage me in therapy are looking for an effective therapist with whom their child will feel supremely comfortable & not resist. I know how children think & my waiting rooms, offices, & every move I make is designed to help children & teens enjoy therapy. I treat a range of emotional-behavioral challenges & have a sub-specialty in social skills groups for neurodiverse children. Located in Haverford, Paoli, Blue Bell, & Center City.

I support families through solution-focused therapy, tapping into a child's existing strengths and inherent traits while building positive patterns of thought and behavior. I combine cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing with a variety of creative art- and play-activities to help young clients explore and manage their emotions, set personal goals and boundaries, and develop healthy relationships with their friends, families and, most importantly, themself.

I specialize in Trauma treatment for adults, children, adolescents, couples and families. Trauma affects all areas of one's life in pervasive and sometimes unexpected ways. I enjoy helping people identify how past events continue to play a part in current patterns, and to work on new and healthy ways of responding to stressors. Other specializations include treating victims of childhood sexual abuse, Dissociative Identity Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. I enjoy working with LGBTQIA+ individuals, children, adolescents, and couples, and working with families to better understand and support their LGBTQIA+ loved ones.

I aspire to make the world, or at least our little microcosm, a more kind and loving place. I believe therapy can help us become better versions of ourselves, deepen connection with each other, and bring more kindness to our relationships. Our innate capacity to heal and grow, both within and in relation with others, is strengthened by the guidance of genuine human connection.

My approach involves bringing change about from the inside out. We will work towards understanding how the problems that brought you here developed, what they mean, and the purpose that they serve. This approach goes beyond simply treating symptoms and strives to help you make changes that are deeply-rooted and long-lasting. It has been proven that the therapeutic relationship actually creates healthier connections in your brain. In younger children this deeper type of therapeutic change is often accomplished through therapeutic play. Play is the natural language of children and allows them to express their thoughts and feelings.

I believe that mental health reflects a balance between an individual's emotional functioning and his/her family, friends and community. I support patients in their personal awareness and integration of the mind, body and spirit. I have extensive clinical experience with individuals and families addressing concerns such as: Anxiety, Autistic Spectrum, Attention Deficit Disorders, Bi-Polar Disorder, Depression, Eating Disorders, Learning Differences, Oppositional/Defiant Behaviors, Personality Disorders, Postpartum Depression and Psychological responses to life changes. I offer additional expertise in bi-cultural/racial issues, chronic illness, co-parenting, LGBT community, interfaith marriage and sibling rivalry.

Now accepting clients for individual and group therapy! Whether you are looking to process the past, change the present, or prepare for the future, I would be honored to help you on your journey. I have worked with children, adolescents, and adults for over 15 years, focussing on reducing anxiety, building self esteem, and finding motivation to build the life you deserve.

It feels like there's some sort of rule book for life that you missed. How do other people know what's going on? You have/wonder about ADHD or Autism, or maybe people tell you that you should, but what does that really mean? I can help you understand what this means for you; how impacts you, and what this might mean in relationships. This might include work on anxiety, sadness, executive functioning, burnout, working on personal goal setting/finding direction, or a diagnostic evaluation. You'll have a safe place to be yourself, insight into your life, and concrete tips for moving forward, allowing you to be you.