Child & Adolescent Therapy in Indiana – Play Therapy, Talk Therapy & Developmental Support

Children and adolescents navigate rapid developmental stages, facing unique emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges along the way. From toddlerhood through the teen years, the parent-child relationship evolves—often bringing stress during transitions like starting school, puberty, family changes, or increased independence. These shifts can trigger or reveal deeper issues, but with the right support, kids build resilience, emotional skills, and stronger family bonds.

Play therapy is a proven, evidence-based approach especially effective for younger children (typically ages 3–10/12). It uses toys, art, games, and creative expression as the child's natural "language" to process feelings they may not yet have words for. Research, including meta-analyses of dozens of studies, shows play therapy significantly reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, behavioral problems, and aggression while improving self-esteem, social skills, emotional regulation, and parent-child relationships—often with the greatest gains when parents are involved.

As children mature into middle school or early high school, therapy naturally transitions to more talk-based approaches (e.g., integrating CBT, DBT skills, or narrative techniques), allowing teens to explore thoughts, identity, peer dynamics, and future goals verbally while still incorporating creative or expressive elements when helpful.

We offer personalized, developmentally attuned therapy—blending play concepts, Theraplay principles, strengths-based focus, and systemic family involvement—to help children and teens thrive.

Common Concerns We Address in Child & Adolescent Therapy:

• Depression, Anxiety, & Mood Disorders — Help kids identify and manage overwhelming feelings, build coping tools, and restore hope and daily functioning.
• Trauma (Including Survivors of Abuse) — Provide a safe space to process experiences, reduce trauma symptoms (e.g., flashbacks, hypervigilance), and foster healing and security—using trauma-informed play and gradual exposure techniques.
• Anger & Emotional Outbursts — Teach regulation skills, healthy expression, and problem-solving to decrease aggression and improve self-control.
• Oppositional Behaviors & Defiance — Address underlying needs (e.g., autonomy, unmet emotions) to reduce power struggles and promote cooperation.
• Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD/ADD) — Support focus, impulse control, executive functioning, and family strategies to manage symptoms effectively.
• Family Conflict — Improve communication, reduce tension, and strengthen connections through systemic understanding and joint sessions.
• Parent/Child Relationship Issues — Rebuild trust, attachment, and positive interactions—often incorporating parent coaching or joint play-based activities.
• Divorcing/Separated Families — Help children cope with changes, loyalty conflicts, grief, and adjustment while supporting co-parenting and stability.

Telehealth Considerations for Children & AdolescentsNot all young clients engage equally well via telehealth due to developmental needs, attention span, or play-based requirements. We carefully assess each case for "good fit" before starting—discussing factors like age, presenting issues, home environment, parental involvement, and tech setup (laptop/desktop strongly preferred for kids under 13 for better interaction and accessibility). Many children thrive in virtual sessions with creative adaptations, but in-person may be recommended when play therapy or hands-on elements are central. We're flexible and prioritize what best supports your child's progress—available statewide in Indiana via secure platforms.

Ready to support your child or teen through their developmental journey? Contact me for child therapy or adolescent counseling in Kokomo, Indiana—via telehealth or in-person. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your family's needs and determine the best therapeutic fit.

Common Family Concerns We Help Address:

• Parenting Issues — Develop consistent, effective strategies to guide children through challenges while strengthening parent-child bonds and reducing conflict.
• Co-Parenting — Navigate high-conflict or post-separation dynamics with clear communication, healthy boundaries, and child-focused cooperation for smoother transitions.
• Blended Family Issues — Help step-parents, stepsiblings, and biological parents adjust to new roles, reduce loyalty conflicts, and create a unified, loving family environment.
• Communication Problems — Break cycles of misunderstanding, criticism, or avoidance; learn active listening, expression of needs, and conflict resolution skills that rebuild connection.
• Control Issues — Explore power dynamics, boundaries, and autonomy to promote mutual respect and reduce resentment or rebellion.
• Pre- and Post-Adoption Support — Provide guidance through attachment processes, identity questions, trauma impacts, and family integration for adoptive and birth family members.
• Intergenerational Families (Grandparents or Relative Caregivers) — Support kinship caregivers with stress management, role transitions, boundary-setting, and multi-generational harmony.
• Life Transitions — Navigate major changes (e.g., moves, retirement, illness, empty nest) as a family, adapting roles and routines to maintain stability and closeness.
• Caregiver Stress/Issues — Address burnout, guilt, resentment, and self-care needs for those caring for aging parents, special-needs children, or chronically ill family members.
• Guilt — Process lingering guilt from past decisions, perceived failures, or family patterns, leading to self-compassion and healthier relational patterns.
• Grief, Loss, & Bereavement — Honor shared and individual grief, create rituals for healing, and support each other through mourning while rebuilding family resilience.
• Care for Pastors, Ministry Leaders, or Church Dynamics — Address unique systemic pressures in ministry families, including boundary issues, congregational expectations, spiritual/family overlap, burnout, and intergenerational faith transmission.

This systemic, strengths-based approach integrates faith/spirituality (when desired), evidence-based techniques (e.g., structural/strategic, Theraplay principles), and personalized strategies to promote lasting change and deeper family connection.

Ready to strengthen your family system and navigate transitions with greater support and understanding? Contact me for family therapy in Kokomo, Indiana—available via secure telehealth statewide or in-person. Schedule a free consultation today to discuss how we can help your family thrive.

Couples Therapy & Marriage Counseling in Indiana – Strengthen Your Relationship Before It's Too Late

Relationships are one of life's greatest sources of joy and support, yet we often wait until resentment, contempt, repeated conflicts, or betrayal feel overwhelming before seeking help. The truth is: all couples benefit from proactive support. Early intervention prevents small issues from becoming irreparable and builds deeper connection, better communication, and lasting resilience.

Couples therapy offers a safe, neutral space with an unbiased, trained perspective—allowing both partners to feel truly heard, understand each other's viewpoints, and collaboratively find solutions. This challenging but deeply rewarding work uses evidence-based approaches (e.g., integrating CBT, DBT skills, systemic concepts, and attachment-focused techniques) to foster empathy, resolve conflicts constructively, and restore intimacy and trust. Research shows that most couples who engage in therapy experience significant improvements in satisfaction, communication, and emotional closeness—often better than 70-80% of untreated couples.

As a certified Prepare/Enrich Facilitator, I also offer this leading, research-backed premarital and marriage assessment tool. It provides personalized insights into your unique relationship dynamics—highlighting strengths, growth areas, personality styles, stress factors, family-of-origin influences, communication patterns, conflict resolution, intimacy, values/faith alignment, and more—while reducing divorce risk by approximately 31% and increasing overall relationship satisfaction through targeted skill-building exercises.

Common Areas We Address in Couples Therapy:

• Pre-Marital Counseling — Build a strong foundation before saying "I do" by identifying potential challenges early, improving problem-solving, awareness of expectations, and alignment on key issues like finances, roles, family planning, and conflict styles—setting your marriage up for long-term success.
• Infidelity & Trust Recovery — Navigate the pain of betrayal with compassion and structure; rebuild safety, process emotions, address root causes, and develop new boundaries and transparency for healing and renewed commitment.
• Family of Origin Issues — Explore how childhood experiences, attachment patterns, and unresolved family dynamics influence your current relationship—breaking unhelpful cycles and creating healthier patterns together.
• General Relationship & Marriage Concerns — Tackle ongoing challenges like communication breakdowns, intimacy difficulties, frequent arguments, emotional disconnection, role imbalances, or life stressors—restoring closeness, respect, and mutual support.
• Prepare/Enrich Assessment & Enrichment — Use this evidence-based tool (customized for premarital, newly married, or long-term couples) to gain objective insights, celebrate strengths, target growth areas, and learn practical skills for better conflict management, emotional connection, and shared meaning—ideal for proactive enrichment or guided therapy.

Whether you're engaged and want to start strong, facing a specific crisis, or simply seeking to deepen your bond, therapy provides tools that last a lifetime. Sessions are available via secure telehealth in Indiana (convenient statewide) or in-person in Kokomo.

Ready to invest in your relationship and experience the rewards of clearer communication, renewed trust, and stronger partnership? Contact me today for couples therapy or marriage counseling in Kokomo, Indiana. Schedule a free consultation to discuss your goals and see how we can support you—proactive care makes all the difference.

All therapy and counseling sessions are conveniently available through secure telehealth in Indiana using the integrated TherapyNotes platform and TherapyPortal. This HIPAA-compliant system provides reliable, private video sessions directly from your browser—no app downloads required—ensuring end-to-end encryption and full compliance with privacy standards for mental health care.

We ensure every virtual session maintains the highest levels of safety, stable connectivity, and confidentiality. As long as these can be confirmed (e.g., a quiet private space and dependable internet), your online appointment proceeds seamlessly, just like an in-person visit.

For children under 13: A computer or laptop is strongly recommended for the best accessibility and engagement. Smaller screens on phones or tablets can limit features, interaction quality, and ease of use during virtual therapy for kids in Indiana.

Experience the convenience of online mental health services in Indiana from the comfort of home. Schedule your secure telehealth session today and receive personalized, confidential care tailored to your needs—available statewide, including Kokomo and surrounding areas.

Integrative Therapy Approaches in Indiana – Personalized, Evidence-Based Care Tailored to You

At our practice in Kokomo, Indiana, we create customized treatment plans by blending proven therapeutic techniques with your unique values, strengths, and needs. This integrative therapy approach draws from multiple evidence-based modalities to support individuals, children, couples, and families in achieving lasting emotional wellness, stronger relationships, and personal growth.

We thoughtfully integrate the following interventions:

• Faith and SpiritualityIncorporating spiritual beliefs, values, and practices (when desired) to provide holistic support that aligns with your worldview—enhancing resilience, meaning, and healing through faith-based counseling in Indiana.
• Strengths-Based FocusBuilding on your inherent strengths and positive qualities to foster empowerment, self-esteem, and solution-oriented progress rather than solely focusing on deficits.
• Dialectical Behavioral Techniques (DBT)Practical skills for emotion regulation, mindfulness, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness—ideal for managing intense emotions, improving relationships, and reducing self-harm behaviors.
• Cognitive Behavioral Techniques (CBT)Evidence-based strategies to identify and reframe unhelpful thought patterns, reduce anxiety/depression symptoms, and promote healthier behaviors and coping mechanisms.
• Play Therapy ConceptsChild-centered, expressive play techniques to help children process emotions, build self-confidence, and improve communication—especially effective for young clients in play therapy for children in Indiana.
• Techniques Based in Theraplay PrinciplesAttachment-focused, playful interactions emphasizing structure, nurture, engagement, and challenge to strengthen parent-child bonds, boost trust, self-esteem, and joyful connection—perfect for enhancing secure attachment in families.
• Structural and Strategic TherapiesTargeted interventions to reorganize family dynamics, set clear boundaries, improve hierarchy, and resolve specific behavioral or relational patterns for more functional family systems.
• Systemic Family Therapy ConceptsViewing challenges within the context of family relationships and patterns—fostering better communication, understanding roles, and creating positive change across the entire family unit with systemic family therapy in Indiana.
• Prepare/Enrich Assessment and EnrichmentA leading, research-backed premarital and marriage assessment tool that identifies strengths, growth areas, and tailored skills-building exercises—helping couples build stronger, more satisfying relationships and reduce divorce risk through guided couples counseling and Prepare/Enrich in Indiana.

This holistic, integrative approach allows us to address a wide range of concerns—including anxiety, depression, trauma, family conflict, child behavioral issues, marital challenges, and spiritual growth—while honoring your personal background and goals.

Ready to experience personalized care that combines the best of evidence-based therapy with faith, family, and individual strengths? Contact us in Kokomo, Indiana, to schedule a consultation and begin your journey toward greater well-being.

AAMFT Approved Supervisor Offering LMFT Supervision in Indiana – Telehealth & In-Person Options

As an AAMFT Approved Supervisor, I provide high-quality clinical supervision and consultation to support your growth as a marriage and family therapist. Whether you're a graduate of an MFT program, currently in an internship, pursuing licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Indiana, or seeking expert guidance in systemic therapy approaches, I'm here to help you build competence, confidence, and ethical practice.

Supervision Services Available:

• Clinical Supervision for LMFT Licensure in Indiana – Tailored to meet Indiana Behavioral Health and Human Services Licensing Board requirements, including supervised post-graduate hours, relational client contact, and preparation for the AMFTRB exam.
• Internship/Practicum Supervision – For MFT students and associates (LMFTA level) needing structured, board-compliant oversight to fulfill practicum, internship, or associate licensure hours.
• Consultation for Systemic Therapy Approaches – Focused case consultation emphasizing systemic, relational, and family-centered interventions—ideal for deepening your expertise in marriage and family therapy.
• Out-of-State Students/Graduates – Supervision or consultation available on a case-by-case basis, depending on your state's specific licensure rules and reciprocity guidelines.

Flexible Delivery Options:

• Telehealth Supervision – Convenient virtual sessions via secure, HIPAA-compliant platforms (e.g., TherapyNotes Portal), perfect for busy professionals across Indiana or beyond.

My supervision style integrates evidence-based systemic principles, ethical decision-making, self-of-the-therapist exploration, and personalized feedback to help you thrive in your career and better serve clients.

If you're ready to advance toward LMFT licensure in Indiana, strengthen your systemic therapy skills, or explore supervision options, contact me today for a free consultation. Let's discuss how I can support your professional journey—whether you're local in Kokomo or joining via telehealth from anywhere in the state.

 Telehealth Therapy Pricing & Affordable Options in Indiana

Telehealth sessions are offered at $100–$180 for a standard 45–60 minute clinical hour (the full therapeutic time including documentation and brief breaks). This rate supports high-quality, personalized care tailored to your family's unique needs—whether through play therapy, couples counseling, family systems work, or individual support.

Insurance & Affordability – Making Quality Care Accessible

I am in-network with several leading platforms to help make therapy more affordable and convenient:

• Sondermind – Often lower out-of-pocket costs with many insurance plans accepted.
• Headway – Streamlined insurance billing and a wide range of accepted plans for easier access.
• MDLIVE – Flexible telehealth options with competitive rates and insurance integration.
• GROWTherapy – Focused on affordability and quick matching for clients seeking virtual care.
• Amwell – Broad insurance coverage and reliable telehealth platform for Indiana residents.

Insurance coverage, deductibles, and copays vary depending on your specific plan and benefits. I recommend contacting your insurance provider or the respective platform to confirm your benefits and estimated costs. Many clients find that using these partnerships significantly reduces out-of-pocket expenses compared to private pay rates.

Self-Pay & Sliding Scale ConsiderationsIf insurance isn't an option or you prefer private pay, I'm happy to discuss flexible payment arrangements during your free 15-minute consultation.

Ready to get started with affordable telehealth therapy in Indiana? Email or text me your name, date of birth, email, and phone number for a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your needs, confirm rates, and see if we're a good fit. Once connected, you'll receive a warm welcome to the practice and easy access to my online schedule.

I am currently in network with the following Insurances; 

 Aetna 

Allied Benefit System 

Alliance Coal Health Plan

Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Indiana

Ascension

CareSource Marketplace/Exchange

Centivo Ellwood Group

Cigna/Cigna A2/Cigna-EAP

ClaimDOC

Corporate Counseling Associates EAP

Decent Health

FAIROS powered by OccuNet

Headspace EAP/Care

Imagine Health

Medical MutualOptum - Carveout

Optum VA Optum/United-EAP

Partners Direct

Prime Health

Sana Benefits

United All Savers

United GEHA/Shared Services

United Healthcare

United Healthcare Golden Rule

United Oxford

United Student Resources

United Surest

United UMR

Unity Preferred Network/Workers Comp

Velocity National Provider Network/Workers Comp