Proven Therapy Methods

Healing trauma with young children and parents together

Therapy for children 0-5 who have experienced trauma or major loss, provided over 4 to 12 months in play sessions with the parent or primary caregiver. Interventions strengthen the parent-child relationship, guide the parent’s understanding of the child and encourage developmentally appropriate interactions to help the child learn how to manage difficult emotions and behaviors. Interventions provide support and assist the parent/caregiver in understanding how their own reaction to their child’s trauma, or their own early traumatic experiences, affect their capacity to understand their child’s needs and provide support. In this evidence supported therapy, the parent-child relationship becomes the safe place for healing to begin.

Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) was developed to help young children, 2 to 8 years old, with serious behavior problems like aggressiveness, defiance, temper tantrums and oppositional behavior. It is also a promising new method for low to moderate severity physical abuse cases involving young children.

With this 15-20 week program parents with young children with behavior problems have the help many parents wish for – a trained professional whispering in their ear. In our play room, designed with a one way mirror and audio visual equipment, a parent wearing a hearing device plays with their child. A therapist observing the interaction from the other side of the one way mirror coaches the parent and helps them make course corrections and practice relationship enhancement and discipline skills.

Individual therapy for the emotional and behavioral needs of children with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other problems related to abuse, violence or other traumatic life experiences. TF-CBT combines trauma-sensitive interventions with cognitive behavioral therapy. Children and their parents are provided knowledge and skills related to: talking about and making sense of the traumatic experience; managing distressing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; increasing safety; and strengthening supportive parenting skills and family communication needed to support recovery.

Sixteen week therapy groups with a Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral approach for girls ages 9-12 and teens 13 to 17. Includes coping skills development, social support, behavior management skills training and personal safety skills. Group participants must have recently completed or be in concurrent individual therapy.

A therapy method for helping school age children and teens with anxiety, depression, disruptive behaviors or traumatic stress. Treatment is based on the latest research findings and is designed to meet the individual needs of each child or adolescent. Both the child/teen and his or her parent or /caregiver participate in treatment to support the child’s improvement.