Rebecca Juan, MA, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor & Certified Synergetic Play Therapist

I have felt determined from an early age to learn ways to support children and families. Even before I had the words, I intuitively wanted to care for my sisters and the small children around me, which led me to becoming a babysitter and nanny during high school and college.

Becoming a mother in my early 20s and dealing with chronic illness forced me to learn that, in order to care for others, we must first learn how to care for ourselves. As I have held this desire to support children and families, I also became deeply rooted in many forms of self care, including breathing practice, dancing and movement, cooking, connecting with nature, working with plants and herbalism, practicing mindfulness, questioning my thoughts, and re-wiring the brain.

These practices and tools, coupled with my experience as a parent of 2 teenage boys, a degree in counseling, and a certification in Synergetic Play therapy give me a well of resources to draw from when working with children and families.

My passion is fostering authentic connections internally, relationally, and systemically. I believe this leads to empowered children, families and communities, and that, as we move through challenges in a connected, regulated, mindful way we become stronger, more resilient and capable of achieving our goals.

"Love creates a space that’s big enough for any stressor to move through"

-Tara Brach

The tools I utilize include:

A top-down & bottom-up approach

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The mind-body-heart connection

Methods & Trainings:

  • Synergetic Play Therapy

  • Somatic Therapy

  • Transpersonal psychology

  • Byron Katie’s “The Work”

  • Hypnotherapy & Parts work

  • Social Justice informed therapy

  • Demartini Method

  • Brain Re-wiring and Neuroplasticity

Synergetic Play Therapy

Synergetic Play Therapy® (SPT) is a research-informed model of play therapy combining the therapeutic powers of play with nervous system regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, physics, attachment, mindfulness, and therapist authenticity. -Synergetic Play Therapy Institute

Utilizing SPT helps to make the unknown known when working with children and their caregivers. At the core of SPT is the acknowledgement that all behaviors have a reason to exist. When working with children and parents, my job is to help uncover these reasons, to make the unknown known. This model encourages us to name the uncomfortable, to breathe and regulate ourselves with it, and to grow in our capacity to love and connect with ourselves, our children, and our community. Dysregulation, connection and integration are all part of the learning process.

“Self-care isn’t something that just happens at the beginning or end of your day. It’s also not just delegated to weekends and vacations. True self-care is an ongoing relationship you have with yourself throughout your day as you check in and attune to what is needed.”

~ Lisa Dion