ABOUT ME

WELCOME!  I am glad you are here!  As the owner and director of In Balance Studio, I would like to invite you to explore the unique array of services we offer for children, teens and their families.  First, let me introduce myself.  

My name is Jamie Moniak and I am traditionally trained as a Licensed Professional Counselor.  I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree from The Pennsylvania State University in Rehabilitation Education Services...GO NITTANY LIONS!  While receiving my Master of Science degree in Counselor Education from Radford University, I was introduced to Play Therapy.  Since then, I have continued to evolve my experience in Play Therapy through extensive trainings and it is at the heart of many interventions I use.  To understand more about me, I have included a section on my philosophy and approaches utilized below.

My Philosophy

My love and passion is working with children and their families.  My intention is to provide a playful, positive, and nurturing environment that facilitates healthy growth and development.  I believe we are all given challenges in life and through these challenges we grow, creating new possibilities. 

I am dedicated to treating the whole child, meaning their mind, body, emotion, and social-self.  I believe balance is necessary for long-lasting joy and happiness. In addition, it is my goal to give your child life skills and competencies to handle current and future challenges.   As a result, I will choose a combination of approaches designed to create balance for your child.

My Approach

Both parent involvement and practice outside of sessions are key to successful application of our work together. Therefore, I will work closely with parents to ensure generalizations to everyday life. Therapeutic methods I may use include:

  • Directive and/or Non-Directive Play Therapy

  • Filial Play Therapy (parent-child play therapy)

  • Sandtray Therapy

  • Bibliotherapy

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

  • Parenting Skill Development

  • Animal-Assisted Play Therapy (AAPT)

  • Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)

  • Social-Emotional Thinking Skills (based on Social Thinking clinical trainings & curricula)

  • Mindfulness (based on Little Flower Yoga clinical trainings & curricula)


BAXTER

RETIRED 2023

His Qualities:

  • Loving

  • Playful

  • Accepting

  • Friendly

  • Mindful

  • Patient

His Specialty:  Animal-Assisted Play Therapy (AAPT)

His Breed:  Chocolate Lab Mix

His Philosophy:  WAG MORE, BARK LESS

Favorite Foods:  Hot Dogs, Chicken, Peanut Butter, and Cheese

Favorite Hobby:  Hiking in the Woods, Chasing Squirrels, and Walking in Streams

Baxter’s History:  Baxter’s mom was a stray in Mississippi.  Knowing she was pregnant and needing support for herself and her pups, she started hanging around a loving couple’s home.  The couple started to feed her and eventually started to let her stay inside the house.  Once they decided to make her part of their family, the couple took her to the veterinarian for a check-up.  Unbeknownst to them, they learned that she was pregnant.  The puppies were born at the couple’s home, however, once the mom weaned the puppies off her milk, the couple realized they were unable to care for all the puppies long-term.  As a result, the puppies were taken to a local Mississippi shelter.  A rescue agency was able to rescue them from the shelter and give them a foster care home in Palmyra.  Baxter was adopted by Jamie and her family at 4 months of age. 

Baxter has experienced some medical difficulties with his knees.  Both his knees have been surgically reconstructed after he tore both CCLs, which is our ACLs.  Both surgeries required 6 months of recovery.   

Baxter’s brain makes loud noises and unexpected movement difficult for him.  He continues to work on overcoming these sensory difficulties and making accommodations as needed.


In MEMORY OF SARAH

2013-2023

Her Qualities:

  • Sweet

  • Gentle

  • Curious

  • Friendly

  • Humorous

  • Adventurous

Her Specialty:  Animal-Assisted Play Therapy (AAPT)

Her Breed:  American Staffordshire Terrier

Her Philosophy:  Live Like Someone Left The Gate Open

Favorite Foods:  Ham, Pastrami, and Cheese

Allergies:  Chicken, Gluten, and Environmental

Favorite Hobby:  Swimming, Jumping in the Water from Docks, & Hiking

Sarah’s History:  Sarah was found roaming the city streets with her brother, homeless.  She was then taken to a local rescue agency where she was transferred to a second rescue in Elizabethtown and eventually placed into a foster home.  Sarah was sweet and gentle from the beginning.  She does have separation anxiety and her brain continues to make it difficult for her to be alone.  However, she has made significant progress and is learning that her fears do not come true.  In addition, Sarah has experienced breed discrimination and knows how it feels to be misunderstood and feared for no causation of her own.  

EDDIE

aka: Ed, Edward, Eddie Spaghetti

The Wetter Ed pictured above!

His Qualities:

  • Loving

  • Goofy

  • Vocal

  • Friendly

  • Determined

  • Curious


His Specialty:  Animal-Assisted Play Therapy (AAPT)

His Breed:  Black Labrador Retriever

His Philosophy:  The Wetter and The Muddier You Can Get, The Better!

Favorite Foods:  Ham, Peanut Butter, and Almost Any Treat!

Favorite Hobby:  Running in the Woods, Puzzles, Retrieving, and Water-play


Ed’s History:  Ed came to Jamie through Divine Intervention! Knowing Baxter and Sarah were aging, Jamie thought it might be time to get another dog. However, the thought of training another dog while caring for two other dogs, along with a busy family life and business was a little overwhelming. In addition, she was in conflict over whether to get a puppy or an adult dog and whether to get a Labrador mix or a Pit Bull mix. Unable to make a decision, Jamie turned it over to her Higher Power and let it go. The very next day a client came in who had just been looking at puppies, lo and behold they were Labrador Retrievers!! Next thing Jamie knew, the client was handing her a sticky note with the owner’s number on it. Jamie called, arranging a time to meet the puppies. On the way to meet the pups, she asked her Higher Power to make it very clear if there was a puppy there for her. Needless to say, the time was right…because only one guy came out to meet her when the owner opened the pen…ED. More synchronicities followed from there which made Ed an undeniable YES to work with next!