Play is serious work!
I am a Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT), in the State of Kansas, and a Registered Play Therapist (RPT) with the Association for Play Therapy. I earned my Master of Science degree, in Family Therapy, from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
At Joyful Heart Therapy, LLC, I specialize and work primarily with children, ages 3 to 10 years old. I am especially passionate about working with children and their families, on their journey to hope and healing, through individual and family mental health therapy through the use of Play Therapy modality, among other evidenced-based therapy modalities. To earn the credential of Registered Play Therapist®️and specialize in working with children, I received extensive training, clinical experience working with children, and clinical supervision in Play Therapy. I utilize play as the catalyst for change in therapy. Through the child’s natural language of play, I work on building a safe and non-judgmental therapeutic relationship with the child, so that the child can freely and naturally express both what pleases and bothers her/him. Through the language of play, communication gaps between children and their family members are bridged, to help attend to the child’s needs, as the child can speak the unspeakable, and process through thoughts and feelings that he/she cannot verbalize otherwise. Children understand things, but they don’t always know how to put them into words, because children’s cognitive development surpasses their ability to verbalize their feelings and needs through words. Children can better express their awareness of experiences, feelings, and needs, through the language of play.
Play Therapy provides children with a means of expressing their inner thoughts and feelings. Play Therapy gives children a comfortable and safe space to express significant emotional experiences including trauma, anxiety, depression, and grief in a way that’s not overwhelming and is age and developmentally appropriate. I believe play enables children to distance themselves from traumatic events and experiences, all while processing through them and internally resolving them.
I do believe that each person is very unique, that my clients are resourceful and are the experts on their own lives. With a strength-based and solution-focused perspective, I curiously explore what has been successful in the past, and explore new, present and future, possibilities that work the best for my clients. I also believe that the therapeutic relationship, between the client and the therapist, is the most important factor for any growth to happen.
Please call 316-779-4337 or fill in the Secure Contact Form to ask for a referral.
Mariam Jensen
LCMFT, RPT