Amber Teachen

When working with children and adolescents, I take some time (often multiple sessions) to work on connecting with them. I strive to create a safe, trusting, and connective space where children and adolescents can trust me and begin to open up. I find, that without connecting first, they are less likely to open up and engage in the therapeutic process. I also strive to bring playfulness and my personality to the therapy room in order to connect. When working with children, I utilize play therapy techniques to help children explore their inner world and awareness. This is because play is the language of children. With adolescents, I often engage in their interests, while also utilizing more talk therapy to explore their perspectives and experiences.

When I was in high school, I developed a strong curiosity for understanding relationships (both my own and others). It's because of this that I pursued my Bachelors degree in Psychology with a minor in Pre-Counseling and Therapy. The primary reason I became a therapist was due to my own experience with anxiety individually and in my relationships with others. I wanted to further understand how to manage it, and also to improve my relationships so anxiety was interfering. I believe that having the support of others is essential in learning to manage and confront challenges and difficulties in life. 

In a typical session, I like to first take time to check in around your overall well-being and help you gauge where you are at that day. I then collaboratively work on establishing the structure for the session by asking you where you'd like to focus that day. During our session, I will will ask questions, but also reflect what you say to make sure I am understanding you fully. I will help you to feel heard and validated in your experiences, while also helping you challenge places where you are stuck.