It is hard to give an exhaustive list of the issues or diagnoses that we are able to treat. Collectively, we are able to do child centered play therapy, activity based play therapy, cognitive behavior therapy, art therapy, sand tray, talk therapy...so many ways to target so many symptoms. See our explanations below.
Treating Trauma in Children & Adolescents
Our clinicians are trained to assess and treat trauma. Trauma could be assault, sexual abuse, death of a loved one, chronic illness, etc. We see children as young as 3 years old and have multiple tools to help your child heal.
Although an adult's frame of reference is huge, a child's world is only as large as his or her exposure. A young child's world is usually not that sophisticated. When play therapists play with a child, they have access to what is in that child's world. Children naturally project their feelings, emotions and experiences onto their toys and figures as a way to make sense of them and to organize them. This works out beautifully in the therapeutic play room if a child has been traumatized.
Traumatized children often play out a portion of what has happened or witnessed as a way to lessen the internal effect. Although a child may not play out exactly what has occurred, the theme or emotion of the event will be portrayed and accessed during the session. Projecting some of the scariness onto a toy provides distance and control for the child. Play therapists encourage this play and will actively help the child move through the emotions and memories in an effort to help them gain empowerment over the trauma or events. Click here to see a blog about using essential oils at home for your child during their healing journey.
The Older Child or Teen
Art Therapy and Sand Tray, even incorporating music into the session can help the older child approach the trauma from a distance all the while helping them move through it. Sand tray and art therapy are great mediums for the younger and older child and can help them heal. Play, art and sand tray therapy are all experiential in nature. These approaches will help the child approach the scary emotions (lack of control, helplessness, feeling terrified, paralyzed) from a safer perspective.
If a child is triggered during therapy and the body responds by dumping large quantities of stress hormones into his system (which talk therapy often does to young traumatized children), therapy is lost and the child suffers. Expressive therapy helps by accessing the trauma indirectly from the point of emotion thereby healing the child or teen from the inside out.
Although an adult's frame of reference is huge, a child's world is only as large as his or her exposure. A young child's world is usually not that sophisticated. When play therapists play with a child, they have access to what is in that child's world. Children naturally project their feelings, emotions and experiences onto their toys and figures as a way to make sense of them and to organize them. This works out beautifully in the therapeutic play room if a child has been traumatized.
Traumatized children often play out a portion of what has happened or witnessed as a way to lessen the internal effect. Although a child may not play out exactly what has occurred, the theme or emotion of the event will be portrayed and accessed during the session. Projecting some of the scariness onto a toy provides distance and control for the child. Play therapists encourage this play and will actively help the child move through the emotions and memories in an effort to help them gain empowerment over the trauma or events. Click here to see a blog about using essential oils at home for your child during their healing journey.
The Older Child or Teen
Art Therapy and Sand Tray, even incorporating music into the session can help the older child approach the trauma from a distance all the while helping them move through it. Sand tray and art therapy are great mediums for the younger and older child and can help them heal. Play, art and sand tray therapy are all experiential in nature. These approaches will help the child approach the scary emotions (lack of control, helplessness, feeling terrified, paralyzed) from a safer perspective.
If a child is triggered during therapy and the body responds by dumping large quantities of stress hormones into his system (which talk therapy often does to young traumatized children), therapy is lost and the child suffers. Expressive therapy helps by accessing the trauma indirectly from the point of emotion thereby healing the child or teen from the inside out.
Treating Chronic Illness in Children & Adolescents
There tends to be an extreme overlap between trauma and chronic illness. Why? Because often chronic illness traumatizes those in it's path. Caregivers, parents and the child herself can be traumatized due to a chronic illness. Click here to read an article that discusses this overlap.
What makes this therapy different from trauma based therapy or even anxiety/stress based therapy? Those with a chronic illness often have to navigate life and energies differently than those who are not ill. Some children are able to go to school, some are not. This transition is easy for some and really challenging for others. Mourning and grieving past selves and learning how to protect emotional and physical health is all a part of therapy for the chronically ill and their parents. Chronic illnesses may include but are not limited to Cancer, Diabetes, Lyme, PANDAS, etc.
A Note about PANDAS/PANS and Lyme Disease
Although more than one of us sees children, I (Gabrielle Anderson) am the only one who does the parent intakes for a child/teen. Lyme Disease and PANDAS are often overlooked as viable explanations as to why a child is acting out, anxious, angry, scattered, etc. These strains of infection are my specialty area and I look for signs/symptoms of these infections with EVERY child intake. Fall and Spring tend to lend to many cases of tick related illness as fall/winter tend to lend to many PANDAS (strep) related symptoms. When I suspect Lyme & co or PANDAS, I refer out to specialists who can properly diagnose or rule out infection as a piece of the puzzle.
Although I (Gabrielle) assess for infection, I also am able to either treat the child who is ill or coach the parents through the process of illness. Sometimes kiddos are too sick for therapy. In cases as such, I am happy to help in any capacity needed, which sometimes means waiting a few months until the child is receptive enough to receive therapy. Whether it be therapy, parent coaching, essential oils, or other, getting help during chronic illness can be priceless.
What makes this therapy different from trauma based therapy or even anxiety/stress based therapy? Those with a chronic illness often have to navigate life and energies differently than those who are not ill. Some children are able to go to school, some are not. This transition is easy for some and really challenging for others. Mourning and grieving past selves and learning how to protect emotional and physical health is all a part of therapy for the chronically ill and their parents. Chronic illnesses may include but are not limited to Cancer, Diabetes, Lyme, PANDAS, etc.
A Note about PANDAS/PANS and Lyme Disease
Although more than one of us sees children, I (Gabrielle Anderson) am the only one who does the parent intakes for a child/teen. Lyme Disease and PANDAS are often overlooked as viable explanations as to why a child is acting out, anxious, angry, scattered, etc. These strains of infection are my specialty area and I look for signs/symptoms of these infections with EVERY child intake. Fall and Spring tend to lend to many cases of tick related illness as fall/winter tend to lend to many PANDAS (strep) related symptoms. When I suspect Lyme & co or PANDAS, I refer out to specialists who can properly diagnose or rule out infection as a piece of the puzzle.
Although I (Gabrielle) assess for infection, I also am able to either treat the child who is ill or coach the parents through the process of illness. Sometimes kiddos are too sick for therapy. In cases as such, I am happy to help in any capacity needed, which sometimes means waiting a few months until the child is receptive enough to receive therapy. Whether it be therapy, parent coaching, essential oils, or other, getting help during chronic illness can be priceless.