Jodi Merrill, Psychotherapist in Emmaus, 18049

Jodi Merrill, MA, LMFT

Profession(s):
Psychotherapy, Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy
License Status:
I'm a licensed professional.
Primary License:
MFT

My Approach to Helping

Welcome to Pathways For Change! Coming to therapy for the first time can be intimidating, nerve wracking, and stress inducing. I am very aware of this, and I want you to know you are not alone in feeling this way. If you are coming in because you have a child experiencing some difficulty, the process can be even more difficult because it is your son or daughter. You as the parent have many feelings associated with the difficulty your child is experiencing. As we search for an answer to "Why" your son/daughter is having these problems, we so very often point the finger at ourselves. We think to ourselves "If only I had done this for him/her..." Or, "I should have never done/said...(you can fill in this part of the sentence)." Enter guilt. For most parents, guilt need not be a part of the equation when we are trying to uncover why your child is having issues in school, home, with friends, etc. But for some reason, parents like to hold onto those tortuous "guilt" feelings, and keep them close to the top of the list of things to feel when it comes to our children. Most of the time, our guilty feelings, only get in the way of our child's healing process. I encourage you to put the guilt aside, relax, and talk to me about your child. I want to learn all I can about your son or daughter, so we can provide the help and relief they need, as quickly as possible. You will find my office to be a cozy, inviting space. My office is also full of toys, puppets, paints, clay, and therapeutic games for your child to play with, engage with, and express themselves with, while I watch, listen, and learn all I can about them. My office is a very safe environment for your child to explore and share their feelings. I will be fully present with your son or daughter every step of the way, learning together how to overcome, heal, and be the very best they can be. It's a journey...I'm here, when you are ready. Jodi Merrill, MA. Contact our office anytime at 610-737-2776 to ask questions, or to schedule an appointment. We accept most major credit cards, cash and checks for payment. You will be given a receipt at the time of payment, for insurance reimbursement.

More Info About My Practice

Does Play Therapy Really Work? Parents often ask me about my practice of play therapy. They ask "Does it really work, Jodi?" A great many parents are miffed because they want to know "how can playing be therapy?" This is a very good question and one I would like to answer for all of the parents who are struggling with whether or not to approach the idea of play therapy for their child. It does work. Children aren't cognitively or verbally able to process everything that happens to them (especially events that are traumatic). They also do not have the ability to discuss what is "bothering them" with a therapist, like a "grown up" would. Children lack the much needed insight to have a discussion about their emotions, fears, and memories, with a therapist. Enter Play Therapy. Play therapy works and here's how: It gives the child the chance to re-experience a bothersome/traumatic event (whether it is something happening daily, or just once, it doesn't matter) in an environment that is safe, under control, and therapeutic. When this happens, the child's brain is processing the event in a way he/she can cope with it, and then healing can begin. While the child is re-experiencing the trauma, the loss, the grief, the emotions, etc. through his/her play, it gives the power and control back to the child. Play therapy is powerful, and amazing. I am always honored to be a part of a child's healing journey. I am in awe of the child's own inner ability to heal through play. It is truly a gift to play with children every single day, and watch them change, grow, and overcome!

Specific Issue(s) I'm Skilled at Helping With

My treatment approach when working with young children (3-15 years old) is typically child-centered play therapy. This approach works best with children and adolescents because the child leads the way in their own treatment, and the therapist follows. Children usually do not possess the knowledge and reference point to sit and discuss their emotions and feelings directly with the therapist as an adult may. Children process their own feelings and experiences best when their hands are busy building with blocks, molding clay, painting an expressive picture, putting on a puppet show or delving into the world of pretend and make believe. By giving a child this type of opportunity to lose themselves in their play, we are providing an outlet for the child to project their feelings and life experiences onto the objects they choose to play with. This is a much safer arena for a child to learn about themselves in. When a child can put on a puppet show and tell their story through the puppets, the trauma, or the incongruence in their lives becomes more manageable as they find ways for the puppet to cope with the problem. In this way the child can safely find answers to their problems on their own while the therapist acts as mentor, guiding, acknowledging, validating and accepting every piece of it along the way. Play therapy is very rewarding for a child and really helps in the healing journey. It is a safe outlet, in a safe environment, with a therapist fully present to witness!

What I Love about Being a Psychotherapist

My years of being a therapist in private practice have been the most rewarding! My work with children is so gratifying and fulfilling I can't imagine doing anything else. I realize that a parent who has a child struggling with an issue is a parent who is worried, and often desperate to help and find answers. Every day is my opportunity to make a change, a difference, and to help a child become stronger, independent, and full of self worth. I look forward to this challenge every day. I get great results because I work with the child and the parents very closely. I am available to all of the parents who put their trust in me and my treatment approach with their child. When you call our office you will not speak to a receptionist. You will speak directly to me. I am here to answer your questions and find the best possible solutions. We are a full service children's counseling center, addressing a broad spectrum of needs including individual therapy, family counseling, marriage counseling, and social skills groups for children and teenagers. We offer free parenting workshops; once per month we have a free parent talk led by a skilled therapist to talk about hot topics concerning our parents. We also offer reading enrichment/tutoring 1 on 1 and in a group setting. I am always seeking new ways to serve the parents of the children I treat. I am passionate about helping children to understand themselves so they can grow and develop to be the best they can be! It is my privilege!

Services I Provide

Individual Therapy & Counseling
Marriage, Couples, or Relationship Counseling
Family Therapy
Group Therapy
Other

Ages I Work With

Children
Teens
Adults

Languages I Speak

English

Groups I Work With

Our specialty at Pathways For Change is on children, adolescents, and teens. We also work with Couples, Families, and Individuals. Many groups are offered for children at our office, including "Celebrate Me!", Social Skills and Self Esteem, Club Ophelia, and Seeing Red, a fun and lively anger management group for kids.