By Lucas Watling As summer approaches, I often hear a mix of excitement and stress from both children and caregivers. For many kids, the thought of sleeping in, swimming, vacations, and taking a break from homework sounds amazing. At the same time, I have also seen that the transition out of the school routine can feel a little more complicated than we expect. Children thrive on predictability, even if they do not always act like it. During the school year, life often follows a fairly...

By Lucas Watling When I think about the Pride movement, I don’t just think about parades, rainbow flags, or a specific month on the calendar. I think about what it feels like to belong. I think about what it feels like to be seen for who you are and know that you do not have to hide parts of yourself to be loved or accepted. As someone who works with children, adolescents, and families, I have seen how deeply acceptance can shape emotional wellbeing. At the same time, I have seen how...

By Lucas Watling You might be wondering what therapists mean when they recommend play therapy for your child. You might be thinking “is my child going to therapy to just play the whole time?” or “how is play going to help them make progress towards their goals?”. Those concerns are completely understandable. This post is designed to provide you with some insight into how play therapy can be truly transformative even when it might not look like it on the surface level. One of the most...