Mia Kim Chang,
Ph.D, LPC, NCC, RPT™
Licensed Professional Counselor & Registered Play Therapist
Roswell Location
WHO I WORK WITH:
AGES 4-12
AREAS OF SPECIALITY:
- Multicultural Identity
- Anxiety
- Trauma
- Emotion Regulation
Hello! My name is Mia.
I have been at Early Connections since 2022. It is such a joy and privilege to be a part of this growing community.
Prior to my time at Early Connections, my professional experiences have revolved around supporting children and families in different roles, including being a professional school counselor and teacher. Throughout my 12 years of experience, I provided individual as well as group counseling services to children and adolescents.
As a counselor, I strive to collaboratively better understand my clients, their experiences, and their belief system through their unique cultural lens. With this understanding, I work together with my clients to develop insights into their belief system about themselves, others, and the world and collaborate with them and their parents/caregivers to live out a more empowering life.
Some of my clinical areas of interest include trauma, multicultural identity, anxiety, and emotion regulation.
During my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, friends, reading, and hiking. I look forward to meeting you!
Education & Trainings
- Master of Education in Psychological Counseling – School Counseling Concentration (2013)
- Master of Arts in Psychological Counseling (2013)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Practice (2025)
- Registered Play Therapist Credential (RPT)
- Adlerian Play Therapy Certification (In-Progress)
Modalities & Interventions Used
Adlerian Play Therapy (AdPT)
What Does a Session Look Like With Me?
I conceptualize clients and the therapeutic journey through the Adlerian play therapy framework. The Adlerian Play Therapy framework consists of a four-phase approach: Rapport Building (phase 1); Exploration of Lifestyle (phase 2); Insight building (phase 3); and Re-orientation/teaching (phase 4). Through this approach, the child and I will engage in non-directive and/or directive play in each session. Non-directive play is when the child decides what they want to play with in session, while directive play is when the play therapist decides what they collaborate on.
What each session will look like ultimately depends on a multitude of factors such as how child is showing up during the session, the child’s therapuetic goals, progress, and the phase the child is navigating in the therapeutic journey.
Adlerian play therapy prioritizes ongoing collaboration, and likewise I collaborate with clients, parents, caregivers, teachers, and/or other helping professionals throughout our therapeutic journey.
Favorite Modalities & Therapeutic Interventions
My theoretical orientation is Adlerian Play Therapy, which consists of a four-phase approach:
- Phase 1 (Rapport Building): Getting to know the client and establishing rapport.
- Phase 2 (Exploration): Collaboratively explore how the client views about themselves, others, and their world and life experiences that shaped their belief system.
- Phase 3 (Insight Building): Collaboratively support the client to gain insight into patterns within their belief system that may/may not be working for them.
- Phase 4 (Re-orientation): Collaborating with clients on how they can use the insights they developed to live out a more empowering life and foster development of the four “Crucial Cs”: connect, capable, counts, and courage.
Within play therapy, play is the core means by which I collaborate with your child to develop the therapeutic relationship, learn more about your child’s experiences that shaped their belief system, and collaboratively support them to live out a more empowering life. Feelings and emotions are complex to externalize for many people of all ages, and children may have a more difficult time expressing their thoughts because they are still in the process of developing the necessary knowledge, skills, and awareness to do so. Thus, play therapy best aligns with the developmental, social, and emotional needs of children. Play therapy strategies used during sessions may include, but are not limited to, sand tray, movement, books, and/or art.
