Jennie Cushman Counseling
Child-centered therapy in Greenville, South Carolina
Grounded in safety, acceptance, and the belief that children have an innate capacity for growth.
Welcome! I am so glad you are here.
If you are considering therapy for your child, it’s probably not because one hard day sent you here. It’s more likely that you’ve been noticing things over time—big emotions that feel too big for their little body, meltdowns that seem to come out of nowhere, worries that don’t go away, or behaviors that leave you wondering, “What are they trying to tell me?”
You may have tried talking it through, reading parenting books, adjusting routines, or reassuring them again and again. And still, something feels off. Your child might not have the words to explain what’s going on inside, or they may shut down when you ask. You are left feeling worried, exhausted, or unsure of what else to do.
Reaching out for therapy is your way of saying, “I see my child struggling, and I want to help them feel better.” You know that therapy is not about labeling your child or fixing a problem; it’s about giving them a safe place to express their feelings in a way that makes sense for their age.
If you’re here, you’re not overreacting. You’re paying attention. You’re listening to your child, and that matters!
“Toys are children’s words and play is their language.”
—Garry Landreth, father of Child-Centered Play Therapy
A child’s prefrontal cortex is not developed enough to fully engage with or benefit from traditional talk therapy. The brilliance of therapeutic play is that no words are necessary. Everything the child feels and believes comes forward through play. All play is communication, and toys are the child’s words.
Children are met with gentleness, compassion, and unconditional acceptance. In the playroom, they receive the time, space, and tools to express emotions, gain confidence, and learn healthier ways to cope, without pressure to talk before they’re ready.
“Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul.”
— Friedrich Froebel