Psychotherapy and Consultation
Resilient Child Therapy Institute (RCTI) provides a safe space for children, adolescents, and families to feel heard through individual, family and group therapy. We use play therapy, along with expressive art-based interventions (e.g. music, art, drama, writing) for children. In our work with adolescents and young adults, we typically use expressive art, along with integrative, eclectic talk therapy.
Please check out the different Psychotherapy and Consultation services we offer:
“Birds fly, fish swim, children play.”
– Dr. Gary Landreth
Resilient Child Therapy Institute (RCTI) provides a safe space for children, adolescents, and families to feel heard through individual, family and group therapy. We use play therapy, along with expressive art-based interventions (e.g. music, art, drama, writing) for children. In our work with adolescents and young adults, we typically use expressive art, along with integrative, eclectic talk therapy.
Does my child need play therapy?
Children experience difficult times throughout their lives, including the divorce of their parents, trouble making friends or adjusting to changes at school or at home. Some children need more help than others to get through these times. If you or other adults in your child’s life are concerned about your child’s behavior, play therapy can help. It is the most appropriate treatment for helping your child work through difficult times, as well as helping you gain perspective of what your child is experiencing.
What are the benefits of play therapy?
- Builds trust and mastery
- Fosters learning and acceptable behaviors
- Improves emotion regulation
- Reduces anxieties
- Promotes creative thinking and problem solving
- Encourages open communication
- Elevates spirit and self-esteem
How long does a child receive play therapy?
The length of play therapy varies from child to child because it’s dependent upon a child’s presenting symptoms, trauma history, and environmental factors. Research shows that a minimum of 20 sessions is recommended, with most long-term progress taking place around 40 sessions. Most children will show change around 20 sessions. Therapeutic progress will be discussed with parents during parenting support sessions.
What’s the difference between play therapy and playing with my child at home?
Play therapy is not the same as playing. Children “play out” their feelings and reactions to life experiences in the presence of a trained play therapist. The play therapist helps the child feel accepted and understood while gaining a sense of control and understanding of difficult situations.
How does play therapy work?
There are three critical phases in the therapeutic process, which include:
- Engagement: The child explores the environment and tests the limits
- Working Through Phase: The child and therapist establish a relationship of trust and the child begins to play out underlying issues. A decrease in the child’s maladaptive functioning may accompany this phase.
- Termination Phase: This important phase includes the therapist and child summarizing their time together and preparing to end the relationship.
Can I watch my child in play therapy?
It is not recommended that parents sit in on their child’s play therapy session. A child’s play in session is confidential (exceptions apply), as is the information that is shared in an adult session. The therapist will meet with parents periodically to discuss their child’s play in general themes, address questions related to progress, and provide support. For more information about play therapy, visit the Association for Play Therapy.
In our work with children and adolescents, we also use expressive arts as a medium for exploration and healing. Expressive arts therapy may incorporate writing, drama, movement, music, drawing/painting, and clay work. Clients and families are encouraged to explore their responses, reactions, and insights through these expressions of art. Artistic ability is not required in order to use and benefit from art-based interventions.
Families are influential in our lives and shape how we view ourselves and the world around us. Family therapy is used to explore and process family roles and interactions, while reinforcing the family’s unique strengths towards progress. Play and expressive arts are often implemented in our work with families, especially for families with small children.
Group therapy provides a supportive environment for children and adolescents to address emotional, behavioral, and social issues. Group participants have the opportunity to learn and practice social skills in situations that are similar to real life social situations. Play and expressive arts are often implemented in our work with groups.
In our work with children and adolescents, we value collaboration with parents and guardians, which in turn optimizes treatment success. As partners in the therapeutic process, caregivers are provided support and interventions to implement at home. Typically, meetings with caregivers occur at least once a month. However, the frequency of meetings can be determined by the unique needs of the child and caregivers.
Child-Parent Relationship Therapy can be especially helpful in enhancing the parent-child relationship. In this therapeutic approach, parents learn to be a constructive force for change in their children’s behaviors and attitudes by utilizing basic play therapy skills in a once-a-week 30-minute play sessions with their child. Throughout the process, parents receive on-going training and direct supervision from the therapist.
Children having a difficult time in school may benefit from specialized school support. With a signed release of information, we can have the ability to communicate with the school in order to advocate for your children’s social, emotional, and behavioral needs. We can also assist with behavior intervention planning, as well as individualized education plans (IEPs).
Clinical supervision is available to licensed graduates seeking full clinical licensure. Supervision helps to enhance clinical skills and competency for more effective care of clients. I specialize in a insight-oriented, trauma-informed framework that encourages vulnerability and genuineness in supervision. Individual and group supervision is available.