Amy Oneal

If your child is stuck in a spiral of worry, having a rough time after something hard happened, struggling with friends, or having trouble adjusting to a big change like a move or a divorce, I want to help them feel like themselves again, and help your family understand what's going on underneath it. I've spent over 26 years in schools and 15 years as a therapist sitting with kids and teens through anxiety, grief, ADHD, and trauma, I bring warmth and curiosity into every session, and I care as much about how a child feels about themselves and where they fit with friends as I do about the presenting problem.

I work from a family-centered lens, because a child rarely exists in a vacuum, their sense of self, their friendships, and their family all shape how they're doing. Kids process best through play rather than being questioned across the table, so a lot of our work happens through play therapy, trauma-informed approaches, and solution-focused therapy. I look at the whole picture, not just the symptom that brought you in, and I build goals around it: what does your child want to see change, and what does your family want for them.

The first session is about getting the whole picture, not diving into the hard stuff right away. I'll spend time with your child getting comfortable through play and conversation, and I'll talk with you about what you're hoping to see for your child and your family. from there, we set specific, focused goals together rather than vague one, so everyone knows what we're working toward. It's normal for kids to feel nervous at first, and I build in plenty of room for that as I build rapport with your child.