Monarch Play Therapy LLC

05/21/2026

Avoidance feels like relief. And in the moment, it is.

The heart rate slows, the dread lifts, and it feels like the right call.

But the brain is taking note. And what it learns is this: ‘We avoided that. It must have been dangerous.’

So next time, the alarm rings louder. The need to avoid feels bigger. And their world shrinks a little more.

This is how anxiety grows - not through weakness, but through what the brain is quietly being taught.

Because the brain learns from everything.

Every time we avoid something safe that feels scary, it files it under dangerous.

Every time we move towards it - even in the smallest way - it starts to learn something new. We did that. We survived. Maybe it’s okay. Maybe I can be brave.’

This is why we can’t protect young people from anxiety by helping them avoid it.

We strengthen them by showing them they can feel anxious and still move forward. That anxiety, as long as they’re safe, won’t hurt them.

The goal was never no anxiety. It was always this - learning to move forward with anxiety, small, doable ways.

Small brave steps. Repeated.

Not explanation. Not reassurance. Not waiting until it feels safe - because that moment doesn’t come first. Experience comes first.

Then another step. And another. Nothing heroic. Just real.

The brain doesn’t learn from what we tell it. It learns from what we live.

Avoidance grows anxiety.
Experience shrinks it.
The brain learns what it lives.♥️

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day!

03/18/2026

I’m excited to share that I’ll be presenting at the UMSL Play Therapy Conference this summer! 🎉

Join me on July 17, 2026 as I present:
“Attachment-Informed Play Therapy with Gender-Diverse Youth Across Changing Systems of Care.”

This session will focus on supporting gender-diverse children and adolescents through an attachment-informed, affirming, and developmentally responsive play therapy lens, especially within complex systems like foster care, schools, and community settings.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an incredible group of presenters and to share work that I’m deeply passionate about. 💛

If you’ll be there, I’d love to connect!

03/10/2026

🌧️ March Sadness: Coping Skills Edition 🌈

Helping children build coping skills is one of the most powerful ways we can support their emotional development.

This month we’re sharing a Coping Skills Bracket featuring kid-friendly strategies that help children manage sadness, frustration, and big feelings.🏀🏀

01/25/2026

There’s no perfect script. This is how I’m talking to my kids about current events right now, focusing on empathy, history, and human dignity.

My kids are 10, 7, and 7. I didn’t expect to go quite as deep as we did, but they had a lot of questions. With family being impacted in various ways, they already had a level of awareness that needed clarity without creating fear.

Once we started talking, they had endless questions, thoughts, and ideas. It’s an ongoing conversation, and I’m really glad the lines of communication are open.

Thankful to share and hope this helps another family. 🌈

01/15/2026

On sorrowful days, many parents and caregivers are searching for ways to support their children as they hear about violence and traumatic events in the news. We’ve gathered trusted guidance and reputable resources to help you have age-appropriate, supportive conversations that can reduce fear and build a sense of safety. Visit our website to read Talking With Children About Violence in the News: Guidance for Parents and Caregivers and find tools to support your family during difficult times: https://namimn.org/talking-with-children-about-violence-in-the-news-guidance-for-parents-and-caregivers/

Via Early Risers Podcast

11/20/2025

A reminder that every trans child deserves a future filled with possibility, a future where they are safe, supported, and free to imagine who they want to become.

Across the country, extremist politicians are working overtime to restrict that freedom. But our communities know the truth: trans kids are brilliant, resilient, and worthy of every opportunity to grow and dream.

We’re fighting alongside families, advocates, and young people themselves to protect trans youth and build a world where they can thrive.

Because trans kids deserve joy. They deserve safety. They deserve to live out their dreams, fully and without fear.

[ID: A soft, dreamy gradient background fades from turquoise at the top to yellow and then pale green toward the center. White sparkles are placed in the top left and bottom right corners. In the center, large white serif text reads: “Trans kids deserve to live out their dreams.” At the bottom, the Transgender Law Center logo and name appear in white.]

10/09/2025

08/31/2025

07/15/2025

06/27/2025

What do you see when a child is at play? Running, building, creating, pretending—these are the moments that catch our eye. But just beneath the surface, something much deeper is happening.

Play is where children develop adaptability, confidence, and problem-solving skills. It’s where they learn to navigate risk, build friendships, and trust their own ideas. It’s where their brains and bodies work together, shaping the skills they’ll carry for life.

The next time you watch a child play, remember—what’s visible is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much happening underneath!