Kristy Howlett Baur, LCSW

Play therapy, talk therapy and creative healing for children, adolescents and families.  

 

Therapy assists children and adolescents in developing new and effective skills for behaving, coping with feelings, and interacting with others. A child’s behavior may reflect challenges and experiences in different areas of his/her life. Usually if a child or teenager is "acting out" or "shutting down" (or a combination of both), it's an indication that something is wrong, that the child is distressed in some way, or perhaps there is an unhealthy family dynamic happening. My practice philosophy involves treating the whole child in the context of their environment (family, school, community etc). So in addition to meeting with your child, I also work with parents, caregivers, educators, and other professionals involved in your child's life.  In addition to allowing playful creativity to emerge in the therapy sessions, I like to support the child's relationships with the most important people in their lives (usually family members and perhaps close friends, teachers, etc). Many children have difficulty accessing their own inner strength and resources, and need some guidance to cultivate tools to manage their big emotions. Increasingly, children come to my office with difficulty managing anxiety, sadness and stress, and report feeling more isolated and alone. Helping kids find their inner strength, resilience and connection to others has become the central focus of my therapy work.  

​

I have 20 years post-masters’ experience providing treatment and services to children and their families.  I earned the Master of Social Work degree (M.S.W.) in 1996 and my Clinical Social Work License (L.C.S.W.) in Virginia in 2002 and have worked since then as a therapist for children, adolescents and families.  Specialized areas of training and expertise include: play therapy for children ages 2-12; healing and trauma resolution for adolescents using a variety of therapy methods; children and adolescents who have experienced sexual abuse, physical abuse, neglect and other forms of trauma (specialized training in sexual abuse); treatment for children in foster care; attachment disruption and attachment needs; children and adolescents with anxiety and/or behavioral disorders; issues of grief and loss for children and teens; and children and families experiencing divorce, separation or other family changes and disruption.  I received my clinical social work licensure by endorsement in Colorado in December 2003.  (CO LCSW # 79)

 

Keep in mind, for adolescents:

The process of therapy is often different for adolescents than for younger children. No matter how good your relationship is with your child, it is normal for teens to pull away from their parents in an effort to become more independent. Thus, while I believe strongly that family involvement is vital to progress in therapy, adolescents typically need more privacy and confidentiality to make changes in their life.

 

In therapy with adolescents, I often talk about the stress of being a teenager today. Other common issues discussed in adolescent therapy include identity formation, struggle for independence, decision-making, and problem-solving. It is not unusual for adolescents to be hesitant about starting therapy. I work hard to help adolescents feel comfortable in therapy by being a non-judgmental adult who will listen, minimize blame, and focus on their strengths.