Child centered family play sessions

Children are always communicating with us

As a parent, I know how challenging it can be to know what our children are trying to tell us. They don't come with rule books or manuals. From all sides, through books, social media, movies and family and friends we are being fed information and possible truths about how to parent. These sessions are designed to center your child and their truth and needs, along with your knowing as their parent.

Early experiences happened before the child's brain developed the capacity to put words to their experience. This means that the experiences are held in the body and nervous system.

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Nature of play based work

Sessions are play focused giving natural, child led opportunities for children to tell and process their stories through play as their words are not yet their primary way of communicating.

Emphasis is placed on presence, attunement, co-regulation, and relational safety

  • Children are:

    • exposed to new information and sensations constantly

    • curious, creative and drawn to explore

    • figuring out boundaries in combination with desires and longing

    • incredibly perceptive and sensing what is going on with others in the room

  • Possible stories:

    • Part of their birth story

    • About challenging relationships, big events, arrival of new sibling

    • About past overwhelming experiences that the haven’t had the opportunity to process

  • No interpretation, analysis, or diagnosis of a child’s play is offered

This work is relational

  • Because children orient to their world via their parents, it is vital that parents are

    • involved and engaged

    • open to observe, reflect and process their own experiences that arise in relationship

      • we were all children once and have our own history of feeling seen, heard and valued. In order to offer this to our children we will have to often pause and be with our past experiences and distinguish that from what is happening in the present moment for our child.

      • children look to parents and other significant adults to guide them to regulation. They are designed to co-regulate with us. If we don't feel safe, the child rarely will over ride that and feel safe.

      • children need a slower pace to stay present and connected and have the capacity to process what is going on around them

    • Sessions are best in person

Next steps:

Reach out for a brief exploratory phone or zoom call

Once confirmed an initial session with just parents/primary care givers will be scheduled (zoom or in person)

Weekly or bimonthly in person child centered play sessions will be scheduled with child and parent(s)

Regular sessions with parents scheduled to support their process with presence, co-regulation and integration of the sessions

Please reach out with any questions: originsomatics@gmail.com

  • "I am so glad that Kirstin has been my guide. It’s hard to explain what happens during these sessions or how they’ve made an imprint on me. Awe. Wonder. Opening…. Perhaps I’ll be processing for the rest of my life. If you feel drawn to this work, you’re in good hands with Kirstin.

  • “I immediately felt safe and seen when meeting Kirstin. Its like she had been waiting to catch me and celebrate me well before I walked into her office. From our initial interactions through to the end of the sessions, Kirstin is really present and attuned to what’s happening with me. Her hands feel experienced and anchoring, allowing for me to go through my process on my own timing.”

  • “Kirstin is amazing. She maintains just the right blend of nurturing care and professional competence. she was like an old friend and it was wonderful to have someone I could trust so well taking care of me.”

    —Kirsten C.

  • “With Kirstin we felt so at peace, comfortable, and secure. She is abundantly professional and also feels like a good friend. I couldn't imagine a better person to care for us during this transformative experience.”

    —Molly B.

Get started today.

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