JOSHUA BURNS
LPC, NCC
Josh values providing a safe, warm, and consistent environment for children and families to navigate difficulties like anxiety, emotional regulation, depression, behavioral concerns, social concerns, grief, and life changes. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor specializing in working with children, adolescents, and families. Josh holds an MA with honors in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Denver Seminary and graduated Cum Laude from John Brown University with a BS in Family & Human Services and Child & Family Studies. Josh has additional specialized training in Play Therapy and over a decade of experience working with children and families in various settings.
Navigating anxiety, behavioral concerns, or life changes can feel heavy and difficult for anyone; it's no different for our kiddos. As children, we are still developing awareness of these huge and heavy internal experiences and how to express and articulate that rich internal world. A child’s first language is play. Through the evidence-based experiential approach of Play Therapy, Josh can enter the child’s world, speaking their language as they process and grow in social, emotional, and behavioral health. Josh's approach is grounded in warmth, curiosity, and genuine relationship. Josh also values working alongside caregivers and families. He believes that meaningful change often happens not only in the therapy room but also by helping caregivers better understand and feel more equipped for their child's behavior, emotional needs, and unique way of experiencing the world.
Outside of the play therapy room Josh enjoys playing board games, music, and movies with his wife and their two fun and funny daughters. Josh loves good stories—from fantasy novels and movies to gathering around the table with friends for tabletop RPGs and other games.
To request an initial appointment with Josh, you can email him at joshuab@waterstonecounseling.com or complete the Appointment Request Form, indicating that you would like to work with Josh Burns under the Therapist Preference section.
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”
Why Play Therapy?