Andrea Flowers
Counselor / Play Therapist

• M.S. in Counseling, Georgia State University
• B.S. in Communication Disorders, Murray State University

Relevant Experience
Andrea makes the most of her free time at home with her family and loved ones, caring for her home, nurturing her garden, and making/creating something crafty and creative. Andrea has been employed as a teacher, group home facilitator, play therapist, and counselor in both agencies and private practice.

Counseling Style
Andrea’s counseling style is predominately Adlerian. The ideas that Andrea utilizes in her counseling are the Adlerian beliefs that people are creative and possess courage. They want to feel significant, connected and capable. Andrea believes that people have these needs and try to get these needs met by belonging. People’s thoughts and actions are embedded in this quest to belong, therefore all human behavior has a purpose and meaning that moves people toward their goal(s) of belonging. Patterns and themes develop that reflect people’s goals. Sometimes these goals become discouraged. As a counselor it is her job to encourage clients to recognize their patterns, understand the meaning of their behavior, and implement goals that will work for them.
 

Parent-Child Relational Therapy
Parents, care providers, and teachers are the most significant adults in a child’s life, and when care providers are incorporated in the therapy process, results are likely to be more positive, profound, and longer-lasting.

Parent-Child Relational Therapy is a unique approach used by professionals, in which parents, care providers, and/or teachers are taught how to practically utilize play therapy skills in working with children. Parent-child relational therapy offers care providers the opportunity to observe, ask questions, apply skills, and receive feedback. This approach has been found to be helpful with problem behaviors such as:

ü  Crying, yelling, refusing when separating from parents
ü  Likes to be alone, withdraws, isolates, refuses to speak
ü  Distractible, inattentive, poor concentration, slow to respond
ü  Arguing, “talking back”, uncooperative, refuses, doesn’t follow rules
ü  Hitting, kicking, biting
 

Presentations

• “Blended Families and Holiday Traditions,” at Georgia Center for Resources and Support November 1, 2005
• “What You Need to Know but Haven’t Learned Yet—Effects of Sexual Abuse and Age Appropriate Sexual Behaviors,” at The Giving Tree February 20, 2006
• “Trying to Love 2 Families - The Tug of War,” at The Giving Tree March 11, 2006
• “Hidden Secrets to Parenting that All Moms and Dads Want to Know,” at Families First April 10, 2006
• “Nature or Nurture — Nature and Nurture: Natural and Logical Consequences,” at The Giving Tree August 21, 2006
   

Certifications and Licensures

• National Certified Counselor (NCC)
• Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC – Georgia)

Professional Organizations

• National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC)
• American Counseling Association (ACA)
• International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC)
• Association for Play Therapy (APT).
• Georgia Association for Play Therapy (GAPT)