Michele Kamerman, M.A., LPC, RPT, CCATP
Licensed Professional Counselor
Lead HFC Child Therapist
Registered Play Therapist
Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional
Imagine being a child today. In addition to coping with the stresses of balancing school, extracurricular activities, social pressures and parental expectations, children and adolescents today are having to navigate an increasingly difficult set of new challenges. Social media and the internet have changed the landscape of almost everything, especially the way we interact. As a result, our children are more susceptible to bullying, peer pressure, and a lack of ability to focus than ever before. The amount of pressure a child may feel to meet all these expectations can be overwhelming and cause them to shut down, act out, or lose all focus. If your child is experiencing any of these things or maybe is seasonally overanxious due to report cards or STAAR testing, they may need a healthy outlet. As parents, we do everything we can to put our children in the best position to succeed and be happy; however, all too often our child’s wellbeing is only associated with physical health while mental health and anxiety are overlooked. If your child was physically injured or sick, you would bring them to the doctor. If they were failing in school, you may hire a tutor. But what would you do to address their mental health and social well-being?
My approach is to use Child-Centered Play Therapy to meet your child right where they are with respect, compassion, and non-judgement. It is an approach that is not intrusive and allows the child to have a space where they have the control, instead of following direction, to help them feel empowered. The child has the opportunity to play out and talk about what they need and what is on their mind. I find that this approach builds a trusting and non-judgmental relationship with your child and enables them to open up more. I also enjoy using directive approaches such as sand tray therapy and expressive arts, which allows children to freely express their feelings and take the lead in solving their own problems. I find it helpful to use a Cognitive Behavioral approach with my older clients to assist them in their journey towards mindfulness. I believe it is important to work in tandem with parents and families throughout the therapy process. I’ve found working as a team with the parents is the most effective way to promote lasting, positive change.
I have experience working with clients experiencing depression, anxiety, life adjustments, ADHD, autism, grief, trauma, social issues, domestic violence, mood disorders, self-esteem and body image issues. I also have experience working with a range of ages, but I like to focus my work on children and families.
When I am not in session, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our newborn son, and our two cats. My husband and I enjoy traveling around the country and world seeing sites and trying as many new restaurants as possible. We look forward to resuming our travels as soon as our son is old enough. I consider myself an amateur foodie, so we also like to try the many unique and delicious options Houston has to offer. I also enjoy kickboxing, skiing, and going on walks to our local farmers market. Also, if there’s a concert in the area with a throwback to ‘90’s alternative music, I’m there!
Michele Kamerman is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Baylor University and her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the CACREP accredited program at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. Michele has significant experience working in a private practice setting as well as schools and shelters. Besides her individual work, Michele also has extensive experience with developing and facilitating social skills classes for elementary school children.
Michele Kamerman, M.A., LPC, RPT, CCATP
LPC License #69770
$210 Counseling Appointment
