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What do you do after you’ve identified the symptoms in a struggling teen?

Failing grades. Emotional withdrawal. “I don’t care.”

High-conflict divorce. Estrangement from a parent. Identity confusion.

It’s one thing to recognize the patterns.

It’s another to know how to turn that understanding into a clear, effective plan to help your teen clients heal.

In this week’s podcast episode, I walk through a case example of “Ethan,” a 16-year-old navigating academic decline and emotional shutdown in the aftermath of parental conflict and attachment rupture. 

Using a neuroscience and attachment-informed lens, we explore how case conceptualization directly shapes clinical decision making in adolescent play therapy.

You’ll learn:

• How your play therapy theoretical model influences what you prioritize in treatment
• How to sequence expressive arts interventions instead of reacting to symptoms
• What progress actually looks like when working with withdrawn teens
• How to avoid pulling random expressive arts activities “hoping something works”

I’ll also share two attachment-based sand tray interventions designed specifically for adolescents — grounded in nervous system regulation and identity integration.

Because effective treatment planning isn’t about doing more play therapy techniques.

It’s about choosing expressive arts interventions that align with your clinical hypothesis.

Join me for this week's podcast!

When your play therapy theory guides your decisions, your sessions become intentional, strategic, and far more impactful.

Join my free Facebook Community Play and Expressive Arts Therapy Playground.

Check out my free resources for mental health professionals working with children, adolescents, and families who want to integrate play therapy and expressive arts into their clinical work.

I work with individuals and agencies to develop successful strategies and meet the treatment needs of your child and adolescent clients and their families using play therapy & expressive arts.

Contact me to schedule a free 30-minute video call if you're ready to level up your skills