Meet Hayley Barden LAPC, MA, who is a Child and Adolescent therapist specializing in play therapy.
...and learn more about her unique perspective.
"Enter into children's play and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet."
- Virgina Axline
HAYLEY'S UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE...
​
No matter what they are facing, every person big or small deserves to be met where they are. Hayley seeks to meet, support, and champion every client that she has the pleasure of meeting. Though Hayley enjoys working with all clients, she specializes as a Child and Adolescent Therapist.
​
In meeting children to where they are, Hayley values the importance of understanding child development in a necessary and responsible way when treating children. Because of this, she operates through a child centered point of view and uses the child’s natural language of play. In the words of Garry Landreth, “toys are children’s words and play is their language.”
​
Often as adults, we forget that children are innately so different from us. Their brains are different, the way they see the world is different, and so much more. Often parents feel lost in not knowing how they can support their child because of these natural differences, and because of this Hayley believes that partnering with parents is an important part of the therapeutic process. In this partnership, a team is created whose sole focus is to provide space for each child, no matter what age, to be supported, understood, heard, and grow. It is Hayley's great honor to be able to be a part of this team for the clients she sees.
​
Hayley earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy with a concentration in religion from Georgia College. She then completed her Master’s Degree in Mental and Clinical Health Counseling and received a Certificate in Child and Adolescent Therapy at Richmont Graduate University. During this time, she received advanced training in child development, play therapy, trauma, and relational parenting. She is also a certified AutPlay provider. Hayley’s clinical experience includes working as a play and expressive arts therapist at The Richmont Center of Play Therapy Education, and as a person centered therapist at Hope Counseling Centers.
Hayley is a pre-licensed professional who is working towards licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Registered Play Therapist. She is currently working under the clinical supervision of Trudy Sprunk, LPC, LMFT, RPT-S, EMDR, CPCS.
​