Uzma Janjua

She has always passionately worked in learning new tools to be able to serve the children and the families she helps. She is a huge believer of using many different expressive interventions in therapy, which include art, movement, yoga and mindfulness. Talk therapy or even, at times, play therapy alone are not enough to promote healing and growth and, more importantly, awareness. Movement and creative expression through body movement, art or being “still” in meditation can “unstuck” a child or family who appear to be in an emotionally and spiritually “stuck” space.

She has had several trainings in how to use art as a tool in therapy and often uses art techniques as a medium to help explore her client's life stories. She has facilitated psychotherapeutic groups for young children and often used art as a therapy medium. Here, she has observed both the power of group and art work together. It is amazing how creative arts, and expression can be so impactful when used in a therapeutic capacity and performed with skilled training and knowledge to help facilitate healing with clients.

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Uzma is a trained yoga teacher and often uses yoga when working therapeutically with clients. Yoga has many benefits, many of which you may already have experienced if you have ever practiced yoga. She has seen firsthand how yoga can impact the world of a child. The emotional benefits of yoga can be tremendous and instill confidence and courage. When, for example, a child presents with timid and shy body language, teaching the child certain yoga poses such as mountain pose and tree pose can enhance a child’s body image and provide empowerment. Showing and teaching them how they can use yoga daily to help build confidence, reduce anxiety, increase positive thinking about their body, and become strong warriors.

It is pretty much guaranteed that when Uzma works with your child and your family, she will definitely try to impart the importance of good breathing and mindfulness in daily life. The breath alone can impact how a child can immediately reduce anxiety and bring a sense of calm to their mind and body. However, breathing needs to be done correctly to be effective. Supporting a child in breathing practice and fun ways to breath daily can impact their lives tremendously. It can seem hard to think of your child sitting in meditation, especially if they struggle with attention. However, there are many ways to practice meditation which are fun and novel for children who naturally want to move and play.

As a psychotherapist, Uzma fully believes in the benefit of art, yoga and play, meeting the developmental needs of young children and creating well-being.