Family Therapy
Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy that addresses the behaviors of all family members and the way these behaviors affect not only individual family members, but also relationships between family members and the family unit as a whole.
Therapy Services
-
As such, treatment is usually divided between time spent on individual therapy and time spent on couple therapy, family therapy, or both, if necessary.
This description is adapted from www.psychologytoday.com
Individual Therapy
In individual therapy, the focus is on the development of a one-to-one relationship with the therapist. The relationship can take on many facets depending on the approach the therapist is using, but most often involves the creation of an accepting atmosphere along with the use of techniques for the purpose of symptom reduction and/or personal development. The individual is engaged in a self-reflective process on his or her emotions and behaviors.
Play Therapy
A child’s primary form of communication is through their behaviors and play. Therefore, Play Therapy is a form of therapy that utilizes play as the main form of communication. Play therapy seeks to discover, recreate, understand, and heal a child’s experiences.
-
In play therapy, children lead their self-healing process, learn to find solutions to their problems, improve emotional regulation, increase confidence, develop relationship skills, and resolve traumatic events. Play Therapy is helpful for children experiencing problems related to a traumatic event, abuse, family conflict, anxiety, depression, disruptive behaviors, sleep problems, or other mental health concerns. While Play Therapy is primarily used for children ages 3-12, it can also be helpful for teens and adults, especially if those individuals had a history of childhood trauma.
Filial Play Therapy
Filial Play Therapy involves both the child and caregiver in the healing process of therapy. In Filial Play Therapy, the therapist guides and teaches the caregiver basic play therapy techniques. The caregiver then utilizes these play techniques in therapy sessions and at home with their children to foster healing and growth.
-
Filial Play Therapy can help children express emotions, increase confidence, establish feelings of trust, reduce problematic behaviors, and create meaningful connections with parents and caregivers. In addition, Filial Play Therapy can help caregivers have a better understanding of their child’s experiences, enjoy playing with their child, increase listening skills, develop parenting skills, find new ways to connect with their child, and think of innovative ways to address family stressors.
Somatic Experiencing
A Somatic Experiencing approach helps relieve many physical symptoms in the body that arise from traumatic experiences and high stress situations. This body-oriented method of healing is rooted in the idea that people “get stuck” in a fight, flight, or freeze response. As a result, Somatic Experiencing utilizes techniques that release these “stuck” responses and repair the body.
-
This type of therapy focuses on the body’s memory of traumatic events rather than the verbal knowledge. It can be especially helpful for people with a history of chronic pain, digestion problems, anxiety, chronic medical conditions, car accidents, physical body ailments, PTSD, sleep disturbances, and many other related trauma and stress symptoms. Somatic Experiencing provides a unique link between the mind and body which allows for the whole body to be healed.
Theraplay Therapy
Theraplay is a child and family therapy that builds and strengthens attachment relationships. This type of therapy helps improve relationships as well as address behavioral problems, emotional dysregulation, and developmental concerns. In parent-child interactions, Theraplay techniques focus on the essential qualities of Structure, Nurture, Engagement, and Challenge.
-
When participating in Theraplay, caregivers and children interact by playing fun games, completing challenging activities, and performing nurturing tasks. These interactions help increase a child’s self-esteem, trust in others, feelings of value, and encourages healthy bonding between children and caregivers.
Couples & Intimate Partners Therapy
Couples and intimate partner therapy is a form of psychotherapy designed to help couples improve their relationship dynamics, resolve conflicts, and enhance emotional intimacy.
-
It can address a wide range of issues, such as communication problems, trust issues, infidelity, sexual difficulties, parenting challenges, and general relationship dissatisfaction. The goal is to help both partners understand each other’s needs, enhance emotional connections, and foster healthier patterns of interaction.