Psychotherapy
CHILDREN’S PLAY THERAPY, TEENS, & PARENTS
WE SPECIALIZE IN CHILDREN’S PLAY THERAPY, WITH 12 CLINICIANS SPECIFICALLY TRAINED TO WORK WITH CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS AGES 3-17.
Play therapy is an effective form of therapy for children and adolescents ages 2 and above. The conflicts and issues that brought the family to therapy are worked through within the playroom. It is utilized to help children express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings (Gil, 1991). It is a relationship-based method of treatment where the child is able to grow and change for the better when in a safe and accepting environment. This type of therapy allows children to freely express themselves through toys, sand trays, and art. Toys are like the child's words and play is the child's language. It provides insight and resolution into inner conflicts, and helps the child better understand their world. Children “play out” feelings and problems as adults “talk out” in therapy (Axline).
Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy with children experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems, including: children whose problems are related to life stressors, such as divorce, death, relocation, hospitalization, chronic illness, assimilate stressful experiences, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and natural disasters (Reddy, Files-Hall & Schaefer, 2005).
In child centered play therapy specifically, the child moves through four stages of play: warm up, aggression, regression, and finally mastery. Symptoms tend to increase in the aggression stage as difficult feelings are processed, and then typically resolve by the time the child reaches mastery.
“Enter into children’s play, and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet.” -Virginia Axline
COMMON PLAY THERAPY GOALS:
Develop new and creative solutions to problems
Build self-efficacy and confidence regarding abilities.
Learn to experience and express emotions.
Increase self-responsibility at home and school.
Cultivate empathy and respect for thoughts and feelings of others.
Improve communication among parents, children, and peers.
Develop respect and acceptance of self and others.
We provide…
INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS THAT ARE TYPICALLY 45-50 MINUTE, WEEKLY APPOINTMENTS. WE SPECIALIZE IN CHILD, TEEN, AND ADULT INDIVIDUAL THERAPY, WITH SPECIALIZED TRAINING
And focus on challenges such as…
Neurodivergent thinkers & twice exceptional (2E) - ADHD - Autism Spectrum Disorder & Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) - Grief - Anxiety - Depression - Parenting/family systems conflicts - Co-parenting strategies - OCD - Executive functioning skills and coaching - Adoption and Attachment - Inner critic/ Perfectionism - Social skills/ social anxiety - Trauma & PTSD - Body & Gender Dysmorphia - Nonverbal Learning Disorder - PANDAS - Abuse: sex abuse and physical abuse - Problematic sexual behaviors (PSB) - Anger management - Academic difficulties - School Refusal - IEP/ 504 - School Strategies - Panic Attacks - Divorce - Family support post death of a loved one - Adjustment due to temporary stressors - High Conflict Divorce - Career Coaching - Selective mutism - Emotional dysregulation and sensory needs - Adjustment due to season of life - Defiant and oppositional behaviors -
TRAUMA WORK
WHAT IS TRAUMA?
A traumatic event is an extremely frightening, dangerous, or violent event that poses a threat to a child’s life or serious harm to their body. Witnessing an event that threatens the life or physical safety of a loved one can also be traumatic. While not all such events lead to lasting difficulties, children who have been exposed to a traumatic event may experience traumatic stress. Symptoms of traumatic stress in children may include changes to their emotional functioning such as intense and prolonged feelings of emotional distress, depression or anxiety, behavioral changes, difficulties with emotional regulation, loss of previously acquired skills or developmental regression, difficulty sleeping and nightmares, changes to appetite and increased reports of aches and pains. There are several highly effective, research supported treatment interventions for child traumatic stress.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents impacted by trauma. This intervention utilizes a components-based treatment model that incorporates trauma-sensitive interventions with cognitive behavioral, family, and humanistic principles and techniques. A parent or caregiver is highly involved in the treatment intervention. TF-CBT is appropriate for children and adolescents aged 3-21 years old. Completion of this treatment model is based on mastery, but typically takes 4 to 6 months of weekly therapy.
Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)
CPP is an intervention for children aged 0-6 who have experienced at least one traumatic event and/or are experiencing mental health, attachment, and/or behavior problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder. The primary goal of CPP is to strengthen the parent-child relationship which leads to improvement in the child’s emotional and behavioral functioning. Treatment begins with an extended assessment phase (mostly with the parent or caregiver) and then involves conjoint, play based sessions with the child, caregiver, and therapist. Completion of CPP is based on mastery and improved functioning, but typically takes 8-12 months of weekly therapy.
Source: National Child Traumatic Stress Network, www.nctsn.org.
EMDR
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a scientifically validated therapy that has shown remarkable effectiveness in treating various mental health issues, particularly trauma-related disorders. Grounded in extensive research and endorsed by organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), EMDR involves a structured eight-phase protocol designed to facilitate the processing of traumatic memories and alleviate associated distress. Studies have demonstrated that EMDR can lead to significant reductions in symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and other psychological difficulties among adolescents and adults alike. By engaging the brain's natural capacity for healing and adaptive processing, EMDR enables individuals to reprocess traumatic memories in a safe and controlled manner, resulting in lasting therapeutic benefits.
NEURODIVERGENT AFFIRMING THERAPY:
Neurodiversity describes the idea that people experience and interact with the world around them in many different ways; there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning, and behaving, and differences are not viewed as deficits.
The word neurodiversity refers to the diversity of all people, but it is often used in the context of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as well as other neurological or developmental conditions such as ADHD or learning disabilities. The neurodiversity movement emerged during the 1990s, aiming to increase acceptance and inclusion of all people while embracing neurological differences (Harvard Medical School).
At Birch Therapy, our goal is to continue to offer an environment of inclusion and acceptance for all people.
Frequently asked questions about Psychotherapy
FAQs
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Our clinicians use many modalities in therapy to best support the individual and family system for the most effective and supportive treatment.
Collaborative care is important, and we regularly work with primary care providers and school teachers to provide comprehensive treatment.
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We believe that quite often, one can get stuck in a life developmental stage and have difficulty coping with the current strategies. Our job is to walk alongside in hopes of offering support, a few more coping strategies, and a safe place to not be ok.
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Sessions typically last 45-50 minutes and held weekly. According to research, it takes approximately 20 regularly scheduled sessions to resolve the problems referred for treatment (Carmichael, 2006).
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Please complete the form or schedule a 15 consultation with our intake coordinator. While we often have a waitlist, our hope is to get you scheduled with one of our skilled clinicians as quickly as possible.