Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Santa Cruz, CA.

Child and adolescent counseling can play a very important role in the life of a child who is dealing with one or more of the wide area of childhood challenges and traumas. Children can become the unintended victims of parents who had little training to become parents, had little time to be parents or experienced separation, abandonment, divorce , a change in parenting, step-parenting, foster parenting as well were challenged by dysfunctional homes with addictions, emotional disturbances and instabilities, extreme fighting, arguing, violence and abuse, frequent moving, and being passed from one divorced parent to another or from family member to family memeber. All these and many additional growing up challenges and traumas can be potent and disturbing...(view profile to read more)

I love working with children. In my practice I see pre-school, elementary, middle, and high-school age students with issues ranging from difficulties with peers, anxiety, trauma-related disturbances, ADHD, divorce related difficulties and many other concerns. In my work with children, I use techniques including play therapy, family systems and cognitive behavioral. In addition, I have extensive experience in art, dance, and drama therapy and individualize treatment so each child has fun while working through issues. In addition to my deep experience counseling children I am a former school teacher and a wife and mother.

Therapy with children must include verbal and nonverbal modes of therapy. We include modeling and teaching positive behaviors and self-talk, identifying core beliefs, play therapy, and sandplay. Sandtray therapy, more commonly called Sandplay therapy, is a form of therapy that provides a way to help children express the "inexpressible" Other ways for children to express include drawing a picture, using a crafts technique, or doing a collage. Art and play therapy techniques are used to supplement the therapy as talk therapy can be limiting for many children. We may also employ Somatic Experiencing methods to resolve trauma. Also, we often include the parents or caretakers in the therapy.

I work with young children by providing play therapy in a safe and calming environment. Children are not yet developmentally skilled at communicating their feelings and thoughts through words. I use my expertise in understanding each child through what they communicate through play. I implement well researched and effective treatment interventions, and involve parents throughout the treatment process.

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.

Children have not yet learned how to shield themselves from conflict, negativity, etc. Therefore, they are akin to "sponges," soaking up whatever they are exposed to. I provide children with a healthy, authentic space in which they can connect with their feelings through play and discussion. I also work with parents on styles of communication (those they might use with their children as well as their spouse/coparent) that may be inadvertently affecting children.

I work with children (as young as four-years-old) through a variety of methods including talk therapy, play therapy, and sandtray therapy. In addition, I provide parenting skills coaching to parents and help children and their parents find ways to relate better and have greater peace at home. Children appear to be very comfortable working with me and after a few sessions with a child, I am often told by the child that he or she has been looking forward to coming in.