Tele-Health, Video Based Therapy Sessions for Children
During the COVID-19 pandemic, therapists all over the country had to quickly move to a tele-health platform to insure safety and protect the wellness of clients and families. Our center invited play/art therapists from across the county to virtually meet together to discuss how this could look for our younger clients. As a group, we came up with ideas and modalities to keep therapy for the little ones as in-depth as possible.
At the Family Therapy Center, we use a tele-health platform that allows "screen sharing". This means the therapist can upload a feelings faces image for example or an art prompt on the computer and both can view it simultaneously. It also means that the therapist can find a child friendly meditation video or deep breathing exercise and upload it and both can watch it AND each other at the same time. What we have learned is that this modality is useful during a pandemic, but ALSO useful for normal, everyday life as well.
At the Family Therapy Center, we use a tele-health platform that allows "screen sharing". This means the therapist can upload a feelings faces image for example or an art prompt on the computer and both can view it simultaneously. It also means that the therapist can find a child friendly meditation video or deep breathing exercise and upload it and both can watch it AND each other at the same time. What we have learned is that this modality is useful during a pandemic, but ALSO useful for normal, everyday life as well.
Who Can Benefit From an Art or Play Therapy Tele-Health, Video Based Therapy Session
In our society, children and teens tend to be computer savvy and usually love the opportunity to be on-line. There are many reasons why a parent might prefer to utilize a tele-health therapy session for a child or teen instead of an in-person appointment. Some of the children we see have auto-immune or chronic illnesses and struggle to leave the home due to immunity related complications, fatigue, etc. Others have phobias or anxieties that make life outside the home really scary. Sometimes a parent will be drawn to our clinicians because of a specialty they have obtained or a population that they serve, yet the commute to see us is too far. As long as you are a Virginia resident and the therapist agrees that this modality could work for you and your child, tele-health video sessions may become an option for you!
Art Therapy & Play Therapy Delivered at Home, Via Tele-Health Video Sessions
Art Therapy
Art therapy is an amazing tool that helps children, teens and adults access otherwise scary things easier. It allows the participant to go deeper into the brain to help organize emotion and responses. During a tele-heath art therapy session, the therapist will work with the parent ahead of time to have various supplies readily available so that the child and therapist can work together to create and follow through on a specific prompt. Painting, collaging, drawing and working with play dough or clay are examples of mediums used during on-line art therapy sessions.
Activity Based Play Therapy
When a therapist is performing tele-health play sessions, the therapist organizes a variety of possible activities to explore during the session. We have successfully participated in on-line sword fights, collaborated in sand trays together, practiced child friendly yoga and meditation, worked on therapeutic work sheets and games and so much more. The ideas are endless and the use of the computer makes the modality fun.
Parent Involvement
Sometimes parents need help and support. This too can be arranged via tele-health if the desire arises. Ask your child's therapist if tele-health is right for you or your child today.
Art therapy is an amazing tool that helps children, teens and adults access otherwise scary things easier. It allows the participant to go deeper into the brain to help organize emotion and responses. During a tele-heath art therapy session, the therapist will work with the parent ahead of time to have various supplies readily available so that the child and therapist can work together to create and follow through on a specific prompt. Painting, collaging, drawing and working with play dough or clay are examples of mediums used during on-line art therapy sessions.
Activity Based Play Therapy
When a therapist is performing tele-health play sessions, the therapist organizes a variety of possible activities to explore during the session. We have successfully participated in on-line sword fights, collaborated in sand trays together, practiced child friendly yoga and meditation, worked on therapeutic work sheets and games and so much more. The ideas are endless and the use of the computer makes the modality fun.
Parent Involvement
Sometimes parents need help and support. This too can be arranged via tele-health if the desire arises. Ask your child's therapist if tele-health is right for you or your child today.