Resilience Restored Psychotherapy
Child Therapy
& Play Therapy
in Montclair, NJ
& New York, NY
Expert and experienced care for your child when being a good parent is not enough.
Help Them find words
Improve communication and help your child find ways of expressing their distress.
Children process and develop through play
Play with an experienced therapist helps children symbolize and work through what is bothering them.
Focus on & reinforce behavioral change
Develop new social, emotional, relational, or independent skills.
Kids Struggle Sometimes Too
Is your child struggling in school or at home or with playmates or peers? Do they seem unhappy or anxious and pre-occupied? Do they have trouble engaging with other children in an age-appropriate way? Are they overly aggressive or overly inhibited? Does your teen blow you off when you ask how they are doing, but your sense that something is not right? Do they seem to have 2 modes: explosion and shut down? Kids, just like adults, have their ups and downs, their worries and insecurities. Sometimes they need some extra support or guidance, just as many adults do. Many, if not most children, have not developed an emotional vocabulary or do not have enough capacity for self-reflection to be able to name what is bothering them or what they need help with. That is where another warm, caring adult, who also loves children and knows how to speak their language, can be such a help to you and your child. We offer child-focused therapy in-person in Montclair, and on-line throughout New Jersey and New York and NYC.
Child Therapy, Play Therapy & ABA | Online Across NJ & NY
Kids are Still Growing and Changing All The Time
When your kid is struggling, it is helpful and reassuring to remember that their bodies and minds are growing and changing all the time. Whatever this current state or phase is, it will pass and become something else. That is not reason to not get support, however. Sometimes support and guidance is just what is needed to ensure that the next phase is easier and smoother for your child and your family. At RRP, we lean into understanding children through the lens of development. There are certain challenges, or sometimes “tasks” that children wrestle with and hopefully resolve at different ages.
Early Childhood (ages 3-7)– children of this age are capable of great imagination, which can both be wonderful and scary! They have fears, sometimes for the first time in their lives. They are also often spending more time away from parents, family, and home, and separation anxiety can take hold. They are also learning what it means to be and have a friend, and they are developing their capacities for learning, mental challenges and school. They also become “self-conscious” and can compare themselves and their performance or other people’s reactions to them to their peers. This can affect self-esteem in positive or negative ways.
School Age Children (ages 8-12)– children of this age are now more accustomed to the rhythm of school and being away from home for much of the day. They are often picking up sports or finding themselves genuinely interested in certain subjects, animals, music, cars, etc. We start to see more of their budding personalities at this age. They are developing friendships more; but their center of gravity is still their parents, siblings and pets. They may have more struggles in friendships, especially as they approach their “tweens” and encounter more meanness, exclusion, or competition from kids they consider friends (or with whom they want to be friends) [Note to self- create a blog post and include references to Fluster Clux and the other lady that deals with kids directly).
Adolescence is still childhood, but we have a separate Services Page for that.
Child Therapy, Play Therapy & ABA | Online Across NJ & NY
How Do I Chose the Right Kind of Therapy for my Child?
Meeting Your Child Where They Are
Our first goal is to meet your child where they are and assess what type of approach may work best for them. Some children need a safe, caring adult to engage them in play therapy to help them portray what is going on inside and work through things that way. Slightly older children may just need a little help putting into words what they are struggling with (AEDP-informed child therapy) or help with how they are understanding situations (CBT-informed child therapy) Other children, especially those on the autism spectrum, may benefit greatly from Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), an evidence-based approach based on the science of learning and developmental stages (referenced above).
How Long Is Therapy for Children?
Most children do not need long-term therapy. They need caring interventions that are developmentally appropriate and help them achieve the life tasks for those moments. Some children who have experienced trauma or who are going through something difficult in an ongoing way, may benefit from longer-term support. But your child’s therapist will discuss the right approach with you and you can decide together.
What can I, as a parent, expect from my child's therapy
You should have a sense if your child feels comfortable with therapist and is open to playing or talking with him or her. Depending on the issues, you should expect your child to be less anxious, exhibit a happier mood, is less avoidant of things they have feared and avoided, and that your communication and connection with your child is improved and strengthened.
What kinds of approaches does RRP use?
RRP uses a mix of approaches depending on the child’s need. Child therapy is mostly play based with younger children, but can involve more talking and exploring with slightly older children. The therapist will help them symbolize, articulate if possible, and processed feelings, as well as work on maladaptive thinking or beliefs. The relationship itself, with a caring, interested adult is another in the child’s life that reflects back to the child his/ her inherent worth and provides another healthy model of attachment and connection in relationship.
What is ABA and how do I know if my child needs it?
ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) was developed to help children on the autism spectrum and their families develop communication and behavioral skills that allow their lives at home, at school and in the world to go more smoothly and be less disruptive than can sometimes be the case. The therapist works closely with the family to set up a structure in which positive changes are rewarded and reinforced, so that the work can be ongoing even when the child is not in therapy.
Why would I choose RRP for therapy for my child?
Our child and adolescent therapist at RRP has over 7 years of experience and embodies a unique educational and skill combination of psychoanalysis and behavioral approaches. That means he can be practical in helping children and families improve prosocial behavior and learn emotion regulation, while at the same time, adept at honoring and listening to the inner world of the child and helping communicate that to the parents and the child
Child Therapy, Play Therapy & ABA| Online Across NJ & NY
Potential Benefits
- Relief from chronic anxiety, depression, or emotional numbness
- Increased self-esteem
- Improved communication with family and at school
- Improved social functioning with peers
- Reduction in negative behaviors
- Increased empathy for others
- Enhanced resilience in the face of inevitable changes and challenges
Start your journey toward lasting change with child or play therapy or ABA in Montclair.
Fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation or book directly online at Resilience Restored Psychotherapy in Montclair, NJ. Discover how our Child therapist at Resilience Restored Psychotherapy can help your child feel better about himself/ herself and their world.
ABOUT US
Why Work With Resilience Restored Psychotherapy
We are all wiser and more resilient than we know.
At Resilience Restored Psychotherapy in Montclair, we believe that resilience is your birthright, ready to be awakened.
No matter the challenges you’ve faced, there’s an inner strength within you waiting to be unlocked. We understand that during times of struggle, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or stuck. But we also know that when you’re supported by someone who holds space for your process, helps you reflect, and asks the right questions, healing and growth become possible.
Our focus is on guilding you from survival mode to a place where growth, hope, and thriving can take root. With years of experience in resilience, trauma, and personal growth, we use evidenced-base approaches like AEDP, IFS, EMDR, DBT and psychodynamic work to help you reconnect with your true self, heal from the past, and create the meaningful connections you deserve.
Eileen M. Russell, Ph.D.
Founder & Director
The values behind Resilience Restored Psychotherapy
Compassion
We believe in meeting each person with deep empathy, seeing their beauty and goodness through their struggles, and holding space for their pain with care and understanding.
Patience
We know healing takes time. We provide a patient, supportive space where you can trust the process and slowly build the belief that you are worthy of care and change.
Trust
With over 25 years of experience, we trust in the power of the therapeutic relationship to help you heal, grow, and navigate life’s challenges with strength and resilience.
Is This Approach Right for Your Child?
Child therapy may be a good fit if your child…
- Is uncommunicative at home
- Is avoiding school, activities, other people, etc.
- Is disruptive or getting into trouble at home or at school
- Is having trouble with friends or with making or keeping friends
- Is showing "negative" and/or repetitive behaviors
- Has experienced trauma or loss and needs safe spaces for support and working through
Child Therapy, Play Therapy & ABA | Online Across NJ & NY
Getting Started at Resilience Restored Psychotherapy
Located in Montclair, NJ and serving clients across New York and New Jersey via telehealth, Resilience Restored Psychotherapy offers trauma-informed, psychodynamic, and psychoanalytic services for adults seeking profound, sustainable change. Every inquiry begins with a free 15-minute consultation to discuss needs, hopes, and logistical details. If the match feels right, an initial 75-90-minute intake session follows, mapping personal history and treatment goals.
From there, therapy becomes a joint voyage—sometimes challenging, often illuminating, and ultimately empowering. With curiosity, courage, and skilled guidance, even entrenched patterns can soften and new pathways can open.
If a more vibrant, self-directed life feels just out of reach, depth-oriented therapy provides tools and companionship for the journey. Reach out today to schedule a consultation and discover how psychoanalysis or psychodynamic psychotherapy can help restore resilience, rekindle connection, and support lasting well-being.
Resilience Restored Psychotherapy in montclair | Online Across NJ & NY
How To Get Started
At Resilience Restored Psychotherapy, we’re here to help you start your journey toward healing. Schedule a free consultation with us via the contact form below, or book directly by clicking the Book Online button. We’re here to support you every step of the way.
201-292-0581
85 Park St., 2nd Floor, Montclair, NJ 07042
220 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
Resilience Restored Psychotherapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does treatment last?
Will I need to come multiple times per week?
Is it all talk?
What if painful memories surface?
It’s completely natural to feel apprehensive about processing difficult emotions—many of us struggle with this. AEDP is a collaborative therapy that meets you where you are. Your therapist will never push you to process something you’re not ready for, but will gently invite you to explore what is emerging. If you feel overwhelmed, your therapist is trained in emotion regulation techniques to help you stay grounded and feel safe as you move through the process.
Child Therapy | Online Across NJ & NY
Resilience Restored Psychotherapy
Turn insight into transformation with therapy that meets you below the surface.
From Our Blog
Authored by Eileen M. Russell, Ph.D. & Victor Calderon, PsyaD. Resilience Restored Psychotherapy
Last Updated: September 2025