Children and adolescents may be seen individually, in family therapy, or group therapy. Parents may receive individual training including how to provide positive discipline for children while managing troublesome behaviors or attend a parent skills training in a group format. Wrap around services to coordinate care between schools, doctors and the therapist are also available.
We Begin with an Initial Assessment
Before initiating counseling services, I schedule an initial assessment session with either you and/or your partner, without your child being present. Occasionally, the initial assessment may take place with all members of your family present. The initial assessment is completed in one 50-minute session. The following steps are carried out:
- Details about your current concerns regarding your child are obtained.
- Background information and family history is gathered.
- Goals for therapy are discussed.
- Various counseling approaches are discussed and a plan of action is determined.
After the initial assessment and depending on your particular needs, you and your child will be involved in counseling either individually or together through various combinations of the following services:
- Play Therapy for Children
- Teen Counseling
- Parent Consultation
- Family Counseling
- Filial Play Therapy
- Group Therapy
**Please click on the counseling services under each section below for specific information about that type of therapy
It is my job as a counselor to help children have an emotionally safe place where they are encouraged to express openly through the use of play therapy without fear of being judged and to help young children have experiences of success, acknowledged by me in a way that helps them develop an intrinsic sense of worth. Part of my work with children is also to provide coping skills and tools for self-soothing, managing emotional energy and other important life skills. With young children this comes by way of something called “behavior shaping” and “emotional/behavioral coaching.” I use both directive and non-directive play therapy techniques, tailoring the therapy approach to the individual client's needs.
Play Therapy for Children
Sometimes kids, like adults, can benefit from therapy. Therapy can help kids develop problem-solving skills and also teach them the value of seeking help. Therapists can help kids and families cope with stress and a variety of emotional and behavioral issues.
Many kids need help dealing with school stress, such as homework, test anxiety, bullying, or peer pressure. Others need help to discuss their feelings about family issues, particularly if there's a major transition, such as a divorce, move, or serious illness.
Play Therapy with children is very different from that with adults as children often express their feelings and concerns in more symbolic than verbal forms. Young children with behavior or family difficulties don't always feel comfortable in what is known as traditional "talk" therapy. To help these kids, therapists take them into an especially equipped Play Room and talk with them there while they interact with the toys that will allow the safe expression of feelings and support the development of healthier behaviors.
Because of this, use of art or play is often an effective means to begin to understand the child and help them re-work their ideas and feelings into ways that are more adaptive for them. The therapist's role is often as a guide to help the child to strive to move to more mature developmental levels. Family dynamics are often played out in the child's mind and behavior where it then becomes essential to also have family meetings.
When children are distressed, they act out through their natural method of processing -- play. For example, when a divorce is happening in the family, a child may use the dolls in the doll house to play out a scene where the parents are fighting. This gives the therapist the opportunity to talk with the child about the feelings this kind of situation stimulates in him.
Play Therapy is a widely-accepted, very effective tool for helping children in problematic life situations learn to express their feelings and explore coping skills. The therapy can be helpful in dealing with a wide range of problems from simple environmental stress to more severe behavior difficulties. In order to benefit from this kind of therapy, children need to be somewhat verbal and able to interact meaningfully with the therapist.
Why is this important? Even talkative and intelligent children are not always developmentally able to express and work through their feelings verbally like adults. Play therapy allows children to use their natural creativity and ability to heal in ways best suited to their developmental level. Through the use of dolls, puppets, trucks, artwork, games and other toys, children share their experiences and give the therapist a view of the world through their eyes.
With adults, it is a similar process of providing a compassionate and non judging space for individuals to express and explore their own patterns. I combine this approach with some cognitive-behavioral methods appropriate to the individual’s needs including examining thoughts and actions and considering alternatives in order to dismantle those patterns that are not adaptive and replace with more adaptive thoughts and actions. With teens and young adults it is through introspective conversation, verbal examination, awareness of the body's messages, some written exercises and other methods available.
Teen Counseling
Adolescence (ages 12-17) is a critical time in which young men and women begin to shift their self-conception from one based in a world of childhood to one based in adulthood. At this stage, adolescents begin to form their identity that will define them for a lifetime. For parents, this time can often be a stage that includes many arguments and consistent boundary testing. Yet it can also be a time of awesome wonder as your teenage son or daughter crosses over the sacred bridge from childhood to adulthood.
Sometimes, adolescents are affected by emotional strains that need to be resolved through counseling. Some teenagers have minor issues and just need a little assistance to get back on their feet and back on track. Whereas some adolescents have very serious issues such as teenage depression, eating disorders, teenage violence, substance abuse, and many more serious issues that many young people struggle with today that need more significant interventions. When not attended to, these issues can have a disruptive impact on your adolescent’s well-being and ability to get along in daily life. At Therapeutic Associates, LLC, your adolescent will be helped to work through and resolve these difficulties so that he or she can get back on track.
Some teens go to counseling to prevent problems from occurring in the future and some come to solve current problems or heal from past wounds. In order to successfully intervene with a teenager it is highly recommended that you choose a therapist that specializes in adolescent therapy. Although most teenagers feel they should be treated like an adult, they have many needs that are unique to a teenager and need a therapist that understands these needs and specializes in helping adolescents overcome their difficulties, get their needs met, and help them on their way to developing into highly functional adults someday. There are two main types of adolescent therapy I offer:
- Preventative Therapy (to help teens prevent problems from occurring in the future)
- Teenage Counseling / Adolescent Therapy (to fix problems, resolve issues, or repair relationships)
Common areas that Adolescent Therapy can help fix:
- Behavior problems
- School problems
- Teenage discipline problems
- Teenage depression
- Anxiety
- Anger, Fighting, Defiance
- Lack of respect
- Power struggles
- Eating disorder issues
- Sleeping problems
- Substance use/abuse issues
- Sexual issues
- Social skills issues
- Relationship issues
- Family issues
- Sibling issues
- Coping with parent's divorce
- Coping with a move or a loss
- Coping with a death
- Stepparent issues
- Multiple home issues
- Blending family issues
- Coping with childhood or adolescence trauma
- Coping with abuse issues (physical, sexual, emotional or neglect)
- Coping with illness
- Lack of ambition in life
- Coping skills problems
- General dissatisfaction with life
How It Works
At Therapeutic Associates, LLC, I believe that the most important person in your adolescent’s life is you! That is why my first meetings are with the parents so that I may better understand the difficulties that your adolescent is facing. We will learn what is happening in your adolescent’s life at home and at school and determine how we can best be of help.
Once treatment begins, parents remain involved, giving the therapist feedback and sharing how your teenager is doing at school and at home. In addition, you may be assisted by me, as your therapist, in how best to help your adolescent as well as have the opportunity to address any parenting questions that you may have. Please see the Parent Consultation section for more information.
Teenagers are generally treated once weekly in individual therapy with check-ins held separately with the parent to address your teen’s functioning.
I assist families through the art of play as well as artistic projects to express and work through whatever is affecting the family dynamic. Through the use of family games and play projects, I am able to observe and assess the patterns in the family dynamic. As a gentle facilitator, I help families shift some of these patterns in ways that generate greater balance, understanding and respect for one another. I often work with family members separately and in dyads as well as bringing the entire family together for joint sessions.
Family Counseling
My goal for family counseling is to strengthen the relationships between all family members so that the family becomes a source of support to its members. Family counseling may involve sessions with your entire family together, or with various combinations of family members, for example father and son, mother and children, or two siblings. Family counseling sessions generally last 50 minutes. This form of counseling is offered to families and aims to provide emotional support, education and guidance for a variety of concerns confronted by today’s families. An individual member of the family may receive attention during the family session to address problem behavior or provide support for hardships or pathologies that affect them as well as learning new relationship skills. Family therapy can be helpful in many cases, such as when family members aren't getting along; disagree or argue often; or when a child or teen is having behavior problems. Family therapy involves counseling sessions with some, or all, family members, helping to improve communication skills among them. Treatment focuses on problem-solving techniques and can help parents re-establish their role as authority figures.
Part of my goal, as your therapist, is to observe interactions between family members. Another part is to observe the perception of non-interacting family members. In addition to observation, I will often help the family reflect on better ways of communicating with each other. So family counseling may in part be instruction and encouragement. In fact, family counseling often teaches family members new and more positive ways to communicate to replace old, negative communication patterns.
Children benefit from the safe forum of a session. They may get to discuss the things they don’t like about behavior of caregivers and/or siblings. Such discussion might not be permitted in the home setting.
Examples of problems encountered by families include:
- family planning
- adoption
- parenting skills
- blended family issues
- step-parenting
- health related problems
- problems of mental health
Common family goals are:
- to communicate more effectively and meaningfully
- to guide the family through traumatic experiences
- to resolve problems and conflicts
- to create a more positive family environment
Parenting is the most challenging and most important job anyone who is a parent will ever have. There are no training manuals handed out at the birth of a child, however! There are a lot of books out there to read but it can all feel very overwhelming. So many approaches and philosophies.... In the meantime the stresses of parenting can get the best of anyone. I provide coaching for parents through seminars, support groups and private consultation. I also provide counseling and psychotherapy support for parents in learning how to deal with the challenges of parenthood and how those challenges affect their emotional and mental health as well as their relationships. I combine philosophies and skills training that are rooted in hope, positive and solution based theories. I believe in empowering parents in a positive and encouraging way to see this job of parenting as purposeful and to embrace it with greater consciousness.
Parent Consultation
I also treat single adults and parents without their children if their main presenting issues pertain to parenting. At times, engaging one or both parents in consultation or counseling to help the child adjust is important. I offer counseling and consultation services to parents who are looking for some guidance on issues relating to their child. With these services, you will learn to deal more effectively with your child and his or her behaviors. Parents can receive education and guidance on interacting with their child's school, child development, managing emotional and behavioral concerns, helping their children deal with particular stresses, improving parenting skills, setting realistic goals, balancing work and family, and single parenting, for example. The purpose is to better understand and improve child and family functioning. Parent sessions are best conducted in-person with me, without your child present, and usually last for 50 minutes. Frequently, however, I will conduct briefer parent sessions by telephone. In providing counseling and consulting services to parents, I take a collaborative approach. I work by offering ideas to you and also by asking for your suggestions so that together we can determine what is best for you and your child.
Filial Therapy
With filial play therapy, one parent and one child work together in therapy. You, as a parent, learn basic play therapy skills for use with your own child.
Filial play therapy follows a
3-step process:
- You and I meet together for one or two individual sessions, without your child present, where I teach you four basic play therapy skills.
- You and your child come to my playroom and have a 30-minute play session together under my supervision. After the supervised play session, you and I have a brief telephone consultation debriefing the supervised play session. This is repeated until you feel comfortable holding a play session with your child, usually for 2 to 6 supervised sessions.
- You hold a 30-minute play session at home with your child once every week. Between these home play sessions, you and I would again consult by telephone. At this point, you would also begin to use your new play therapy skills in interactions with your child outside of the 30-minute special play session. Specific child behavior problems would also be discussed.
Group Counseling provides help in individual and interpersonal adjustment through discussion and activities with other children and adolescents with similar experiences and goals. In order to be a member of the group, each member must agree to keep group discussions and activities confidential.
**Availability of topic-related groups will be determined by the need. Please call Amanda for a current listing of available groups and to determine which group is the best fit for your needs.**
Group Therapy
How do groups work?
Group participants learn that they are not alone, and are encouraged to use the group as an outlet for their concerns. They learn and grow by their own contributions, and sharing their own experiences. In addition, the contributions of other group members are just as important in fostering growth. Groups members find relief in knowing there are others dealing with similar issues. They have opportunities to give and receive feedback in a supportive manner and environment, to learn more about their particular concerns, and improve coping abilities, and to practice new and improved ways of relating to others.
Who else will be in the group?
Children and adolescents will be placed with other individuals with similar age and concerns. Groups will generally consist of between 4 and 8 members, with an adequate counselor: child ratio.
The resolution of problems of
individual adjustment and
group relations is the goal of these programs. Individual and Group Counseling are typically offered on a once a week basis. Individual and group counseling are available for children and adolescents ages 12 to 18 as well as parents. All services are confidential and culturally sensitive.
How do I know if my child needs individual or group counseling?
At an initial intake meeting, I will help you decide whether individual or group counseling, or another type of service will be most beneficial for your child.
What information do parents receive?
By combining the individual or group meetings with a regular schedule of parent consultation, parents are updated on progress, and can learn ways to encourage such progress at home and school.
What topics are addressed in individual and group counseling?
A wide range of topics can be addressed in counseling.
Some of the topics may include:
- Social skills
- Grief and loss
- Depression
- School adjustment
- Anger management
- Attentional difficulties
- Cultural adjustment
- Family adjustment
- Behavioral concerns
- Learning disabilities
- Coping with violence
- Nervousness
- Parent support groups
- Identity and Self Esteem
- Trauma
- Abuse and neglect
As a clinician, I am dedicated to making learning a life long journey. Therefore, in an effort to give back some of the knowledge I have been privileged to receive over the years I make myself available to create and lead therapy groups, seminars, workshops, and speaking engagements on specialized topics related to mental health, and can conduct them at the location of your choice. These seminars are held at various locations within the community. Meeting formats range from one-time classes to full-day, multiple-day, and multiple-week formats. A few topics frequently requested include:
- Good Touch / Bad Touch a Sexual Abuse Prevention Curriculum for Children
- Keeping your Kids Safe from Sexual Abuse
- Grief Recovery When Children Grieve
- Rainbows Grief Support Groups Curriculum
- Active Parenting Now, Teens, and 1-2-3-4!
- Dating Safety
To learn more about my special services and to explore how I can best serve your needs please contact my office.
