Child and Adolescent Therapy
We use a developmental, playful approach to therapy with kids. Children are naturally playful, curious, trusting, and seek connection with others. Play is their main language and how they work through their problems and achieve mastery. When adults also learn to communicate in the language of play they will have a deeper understanding of and connection with their kids. Play alleviates stress, enhances connection, stimulates creative thinking and exploration, teaches emotional regulation, and builds self-worth.
Play therapy has two main types, but many therapists use a hybrid approach:
Non-directive play therapy is when the therapist takes a child to a playroom and allows them to direct the play and activities while the therapist makes therapeutic observations and statements. This type of therapy is most beneficial for traumatized children as it gives them a sense of control. They engage in traumatic, repetitive play rather than normative play. There is typically a lot of intense role-playing, storylines, and reenactment of traumatic events and negative feelings. Over time, their play evolves from traumatic to normative, and from themes of helplessness, fear, and abandonment to themes of empowerment, safety, and connection.
Directive play therapy is when the therapist directs the activities, play, and conversation with some input from the child and/or caregiver. This is more effective for social and behavioral difficulties as it focuses on skill-building and helping kids understand what’s happening in their family, at school, or with their diagnoses (i.e., ADHD, depression, ASD).
Learn more about Play Therapy: https://utahplaytherapy.org/
Once kids become “tweenies,” their play starts to shift away from imaginative play to other forms of play. Tweens and teens prefer more structured games (cards or board and video games), art or music, and sarcasm and humor. They also become more capable of and open to talk therapy, especially if it has playful or experiential elements. We will go with, especially the older kids, outside for walk-and-talks, tossing a ball, or other activities.
Caregiver Involvement
Caregivers often ask how much they will be involved in their child’s therapy, and the answer is that it depends on your child’s history, age, developmental stage, diagnoses, and other factors.
As systemic therapists, however, we involve parents in some form in every session. We want you to be active participants and co-therapists in your child’s therapy because you know them better than we ever could!
We will engage you in their therapeutic activities, get updates from you, and teach you parenting techniques that are tailored to your family and child.
Sometimes we will have you stay in the room with your child for the entire session. Other times, we will meet with you alone or jointly for 10-15 minutes at the beginning or end of the session. Some weeks, we may meet with the caregiver(s) without the child present.
