PREPARATION…
In order to make the most of the first session, I have provided you with the Client Paperwork. I have found that there is a lot of anxiety surrounding the first session. Sometimes it helps to read through the Client Paperwork at your leisure, so that you are fully aware of what you are signing and can take your time to think through the questions and answer them. If you are filling out the paperwork for an adolescent, please review it with them and have them sign the paperwork as well.
WEEKLY SESSIONS FOR CHILDREN…
These are the building blocks of therapy. It is here that the most important therapeutic intervention is established: the client-therapist relationship. According to research, this is what makes therapy work. During the first session, I will review the Client Paperwork you prepared, ask about the current problems, inquire about what you hope to change as a result of therapy, and review the delicacy of confidentiality as it relates to working with children. In the first session, I prefer to meet without the child present. It is difficult for a child to be the topic of discussion, especially when much of the discussion addresses their problem behaviors.
From this point on, all discussions with me, when the child is present, will be focused on the strengths of the child and what they have done right during the week. If there is an issue you would like to address, you are always welcome to speak with me, on the phone, when your child is not in hearing distance. In the second session, I will meet with your child to review the purpose of therapy, my role as the counselor, and collaborate on goals for treatment with them. The remainder of the sessions will be focused on helping your child to progress towards the goals they established by weaving in strategies that will assist them to effectively manage the struggles they encounter during the week.
WHY PLAY THERAPY???
Toys are like the child’s words and play is the child’s language.
You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.
The simple act of playing is very therapeutic for children. During play, a child’s mood is lifted, they have a brighter outlook on life, and they are able to express their thoughts and emotions in a natural way. Play therapy is an evidenced based approach to therapy that utilizes the strengths and language of the child. Through play therapy, children learn to interact with others, problem solve, develop skills needed in life, and master their world. In this setting, children can learn healthier ways to manage their problems. If you are interested in learning more, please visit the Assocation for Play Therapy website by clicking the button below.
LENGTH OF THERAPY…
Each session is approximately 50 minutes long. At the beginning of each session I will ask your child to complete a quick assessment that will let me know their evaluation of the past week. At the end of the session, I will ask them to evaluate how helpful our session was for them. Their feedback is valuable to me and will help me to know if I am helping, or if I need to change what I am doing to accommodate their particular needs.
When therapy is finished, it is my hope that your child is comfortable with who they are and can say, “I can do this on my own!” Each person is unique and brings their own set of tools to therapy, which is why the length of therapy is different for everyone. When your child has reached their goals for treatment and can manage their struggles successfully, graduation from therapy is the next step. On average, a child is ready to graduate from therapy between 6 months to a year. While graduation marks the end of the therapeutic relationship, you are welcome to return to therapy, if needed, or schedule one session as a “check-in”.