Jessica Brenneman Hardaway, LMFT
(she/her/hers)
*Accepting new patients
I'm so glad you're here! I'm Jessica, I have worked in children's mental health since 2007. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and I specialize in working with children under the age of 12. I have been honored to work with families and children through times of trauma, healing, and transition. I have worked in homes, clinics, schools, and private practices. I believe in the healing power of relationships and have helped many families and children uncover their strengths, connect with one another, and traverse difficult times. I most frequently use Child Centered Play Therapy to help children heal and Structural Family Therapy to help grown ups create a strong, secure method of leadership. For those who have experienced trauma, I often use SMART Therapy to help children process their experiences and learn to regulate themselves.
When I'm not working, I am usually parked at a coffee shop, playing with my toddler, cooking, reading, doing yoga, or working on my 100 year old house. I am not very serious and love to laugh and be silly.
As a parent, it is so unsettling when something is going wrong with our little ones. I have experience in many different challenges that can occur in childhood and I would love to talk with you about how we can help!
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SMART Therapy:
SMART (Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Treatment) is an innovative approach to treating children who have experienced trauma. SMART takes place in a big room with fun equipment that helps kids explore many kinds of movement. SMART treatment emphasizes co-regulating with an adult (the therapist or caregiver!) to help the child feel regulated and balanced and give them an opportunity to process their traumatic memories. SMART is appropriate for clients who have experienced trauma. This can range from big traumatic events like car accidents, death of a loved one, abuse, disruption in caregivers, or community violence to smaller but still impactful events like a parent struggling with mental health concerns, bullying, difficult medical procedures, and school traumas.
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Many children who have experienced trauma have trouble with regulation: they may seem defiant, hyper, reactive, aggressive, impulsive, depressed, or withdrawn. They may also experience many different physical problems such as headaches, stomachaches or get sick frequently.
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For more information on SMART, please visit their website or call us at (302) 295-1088 to learn more about how SMART works at ACC and see if it is right for your family!
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Areas of Interest:
Early childhood mental health
Children who have experienced trauma
Children with anxiety
Children with acting out behaviors
Parent child relationship improvement
Healing after divorce
Parenting challenges
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Fees and Insurances:
In Network Insurances:
- Blue Cross/Highmark Plans
- Highmark Health Options
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Please reach out to inquire about out-of-network benefits for your insurance carrier if it is not listed here. ​
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