Morgan Sanchez,
M.ED, APC, NCC
Associate Professional Counselor
Roswell Location
WHO I WORK WITH:
AGES 3-15
AREAS OF SPECIALITY:
- Anxiety
- Social Skills
- Self-Esteem
- Family Changes
- Trauma
- Grief
- Big Behaviors
- Children/Families with Disabilities
Hello! I'm Morgan.
With an understanding of the unique challenges children face, I create a safe and nurturing environment where children feel valued and heard. I encourage children as young as 3 to explore and express their feelings, thoughts, and experiences through play, movement, and creativity. I serve as a guide, believing children have the intrinsic capacity to heal and grow within a compassionate and empathetic therapeutic relationship.
I view children holistically and approach each child’s unique experiences within the context of their family, school, and community. Therefore, I collaborate with families, schools, and any other important members of a child’s care team to better understand and support the child’s challenges in their world. All behavior, whether desirable or not, is a form of communication that can provide valuable insights into a child’s needs and beliefs, and through play and collaboration, we will work together to identify what the child is communicating to us and how to support them best. I aim to empower the child and their caregiver(s) with practical tools to foster healthy emotional and social development.
Prior to joining the team at Early Connections, I served as a school counselor, special education teacher, and general education teacher in the metro Atlanta area. As a school counselor, I provided individual and group counseling services to children to support their social/emotional well-being and academic success and consultation/coaching services for caregivers and school staff. As a special education teacher, I provided differentiated instruction for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP), as well as served as a case manager for students qualifying for special education services under the eligibility categories of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Emotional Behavior Disorder (EBD), Significant Developmental Delay (SDD), Speech Language Impairment (SLI), Specific Learning Disability (SLD), and Other Health Impairment (OHI) such as ADHD. During my time in education, I also served as the Response to Intervention (RTI) and 504 Coordinator. I am passionate about helping caregivers ensure their child is set up with the appropriate support systems at home and school so that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
As a pre-licensed therapist, I am currently working in our Roswell, GA office under the supervision of Lauren Brown, LPC, NCC, CPCS, RPT-S, who is also the owner and director of Early Connections Child & Family Counseling. I received a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from Georgia State University and a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) in Elementary/Special Education from Mercer University.
Education & Trainings
- Master of Education in School Counseling (2021)
- AutPlay Certification (In-Progress)
Modalities & Interventions Used
- Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)
- Adlerian Play Therapy (AdPT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – child-friendly strategies
- Filial Therapy Principles
- Attachment and Trauma-Informed Practices
What Does a Session Look Like With Me?
I strive to create a safe and nurturing environment where children and their caregivers feel valued and heard, encouraging them to explore and express their feelings, thoughts, and experiences through play, movement, and creativity. You can expect my sessions to be flexible and playful, focusing on the needs and therapeutic goals of each individual client.
It is my goal to meet each client where they are and use the therapeutic interventions that will be most impactful for that client. Typically, this means my therapeutic work is more non-directive and child-centered, though I do incorporate directive activities for skill building as we build upon the therapeutic relationship. We will use a variety of toys and creative materials throughout our work together.
Favorite Modalities & Therapeutic Interventions
My therapeutic work is grounded in Child-Centered Play Therapy and Adlerian Play Therapy, two evidence-based approaches that honor each child’s personality, experiences, and strengths. I believe that children do their best when they feel safe, understood, and encouraged. In the playroom, children are given the space to express themselves in the language they know best (play!) while I work to build a trusting relationship that supports emotional growth, confidence, and positive change.
Adlerian Play Therapy provides the foundation for understanding each child’s behavior as meaningful and purposeful, rooted in their natural desire to belong and feel significant. Through this lens, I help children gain insight into their feelings and choices while developing healthier ways of relating to others. Encouragement and collaboration are central to my work with both children and their families.
In sessions, I use a wide range of developmentally appropriate interventions tailored to each child’s needs and goals. Along with child-centered play experiences, I incorporate Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies in child-friendly ways to help children recognize connections between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, build coping skills, and practice new ways of responding to challenges. Sessions may also include therapeutic storytelling, sand tray and expressive art activities, emotional regulation games, social skills development, as well as trauma and attachment-informed practices. I may also integrate Filial Therapy principles to strengthen the parent-child relationship and support lasting growth beyond the therapy room.
My goal is to help children feel empowered, capable, and connected while partnering closely with families to nurture resilience, emotional understanding, and healthy relationships.
