Services for Children
Individual Counseling and Ongoing Psychotherapy
Many children go through a time in life where they seem to struggle in school and at home. For some children, these changes may seem to come out of the blue. For other children, they are a response to transitions such as the birth of a sibling, divorce, a move or a death in the family. If children experience emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, they frequently are more able to heal from this event with the help of a therapist.
We work with parents of child clients in a team approach to therapy. This means that parents are a resource in their child's treatment and we assist parents with parenting concerns as needed, meeting without the child in monthly sessions separate from the child's weekly sessions. In parent meetings, the parents help the therapist assess progress and continued challenges and the therapist offers ideas and new skills in the face of old patterns and difficult behaviors. The therapist may also discuss referrals for the family to other services such as support groups, socialization groups, psychological assessment, or counseling for other family members.
We provide individual counseling and ongoing psychotherapy for children exhibiting one or more of the following:
*irritability in the child’s mood
*defiance, i.e. refusing to follow the rules, "talking back"
*an increase in physical or verbal fighting at home or at school
*sadness and isolation
*a lack of interest in things they used to enjoy
*sleeping and eating problems
*problems focusing on their school work
*regression to an earlier developmental stage, i.e. bedwetting etc.
*an increase in fears and worries
*avoidance of specific places, people or things
*excessive clinging and difficulty separating from a parent or caretaker
*difficulty with transitions such as going from home to school, leaving play dates etc.
*repetitive behaviors that severely impact the child or family's ability to follow their schedule, i.e. child must check that doors are locked five times before every outing.
*any noticeable change in functioning or success in an important area of life.
The treatment for these children involves a combination of play therapy, sandplay therapy and verbal therapy and a child-centered yet active approach. The therapist creates a free and protected space for the child so that the child can explore difficult material in an environment that feels non-threatening.
The therapist uses carefully chosen play materials to encourage identification and expression of feelings. The therapist interacts actively with the child within the context of the child's imagination and symbolic play. The therapist thus learns about the meaning behind the child's challenges and offers new skills and a new experience for the child when faced with difficult feelings, fears, or self-sabotaging patterns.
Expressive Arts and Sandplay Process
Other children may just feel their emotions in a deeper shade and might need a little extra support to process their experience of their internal and external worlds. These are children who may not experience any of the more serious symptoms above but may have minor difficulties in social interactions or at home. Parents or teachers might notice general "angst", moodiness or intense emotions that come out in ways that negatively impact the child's ability to thrive at school or at home. Here are some characteristics of a child who might thrive and benefit from an expressive arts and sandplay process:
*highly creative and imaginative
*often express a wide range of emotions
*often express emotions very intensely
*have difficulty making friends or fitting in with groups of other children
*seem different from their peers in a variety of ways
*often choose to be alone and engaging in solitary imaginary play
The therapist meets with the parents to learn more about the child and then begins weekly sessions with the child. The child has free use of the sandplay, art and other creative materials and the primary goal revolves around self-expression. Parents meet alone with the therapist every 4-6 weeks to learn more about the child's inner world and what family members and teachers can do to encourage increased thriving and self-esteem for this child.