Tala Halik, MA

Child: “I fell and hurt my knee!”
Parent: “Don’t cry. It’s OK. Don’t be sad. You’re fine. Just be more careful.”
The Whole Brain Child, Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson

This is a common exchange between children and caretakers. Children are often seen as resilient and expected to suppress their emotions and “be strong.” However, children are small adults. They experience similar emotions as adults, yet developmentally are not equipped to process them in the same way. A child’s primary language is play. A child’s emotions are real and important, no matter how frustrating they may seem to us.

I utilize a Client Centered integrative approach when working with children using both directive and nondirective strategies. This approach is effective in helping children regain power in their lives, reducing the power struggle they present to others. I tailor my approach based on the child, their temperament, and their specific needs. My goal is to help children trust others, and most importantly trust themselves.

Understanding a child’s brain development is an integral part in understanding how to effectively connect. This trust and connection can be found through art, play, creativity, somatic movement, and psychoeducation in a manner that is digestible by the child. Most importantly, by being genuine and playful at heart, I utilize my own personality traits to create a strong and authentic relationship with children to help them heal.

Special areas of interest include working with trauma-related issues like attachment, emotional dysregulation, ADHD, anxiety, depression, grief, interpersonal/relational conflict, low self-esteem, life transitions, behavioral concerns, etc. My work is informed with practice and techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Integrative Child centered play therapy, and person-centered therapy. I prioritize a multicultural approach in my counseling. As a child of immigrants, I understand the importance of maintaining sensitivity to racial and cultural differences.

Overall, my goal is to help children get back up after hurting their knee, recognize that it hurt them, allow them to share the story of how it happened, and empower them with tools to self-regulate.

MORE ABOUT ME:

I was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas and currently live in Arlington, Virginia. I am a certified Yoga Sculpt instructor and in my free time you can find me in a yoga class, taste testing new coffee, or reading a book in any spot of sunshine I can find!

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

• Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at The George Washington University
• Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin
• Member of the American Counseling Association (ACA)
• Member of Chi Sigma Iota, international counseling academic honor society

SUPERVISED BY:

Katie Clark, LPC, RPT, NCC

CREDENTIALS:

Resident in Counseling

PRELICENSE:

VA 0704015555