CHILD PARENT PSYCHOTHERAPY (CPP)
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) is evidence-based therapy treatment for caregivers and their infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.  CPP was designed to enhance and repair the behavioral and mental health of young children whose most intimate relationships are disrupted by stressful experiences (Lieberman, Ghosh Ippen, & Van Horn, 2015, p.1).  While respecting family and cultural values, the caregiver and his/her child are active participants in treatment to enhance a healthy relationship, build social and emotional growth, and recover from maltreatment/neglect, abuse/violence (e.g., psychological, physical, and sexual abuse, community violence, intimate partner violence) and other forms of trauma (e.g., natural disasters, medical trauma, refugee trauma, racial trauma, traumatic grief).  ​Ultimately, we combine our knowledge and experience with the caregiver's relationship with the child.  
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Play Wellness provides CPP with pregnant/birthing bodies through children aged 5 to help with:
  • Prenatal child-parent connections
  • Infant, toddler, and preschool mental health wellness and prevention of illness
  • Teen parents who are adjusting as adolescents and parents
  • Kids ages 0-5 who exhibit behavioral, emotional, and social difficulties
  • Parents who want to prevent or recover from intergenerational trauma​​

PLAY THERAPY

Play therapy utilizes the therapeutic powers of PLAY to help children achieve optimal mental health (APT, 2013).  Play therapy was designed to enhance the mental and emotional functioning of children (ages 4-12) based on their specific developmental and cultural needs.  Play Wellness has a special play space just for children!  We use selected toys (which serve as their words) to help children learn and grow at their own pace and in their own language (play).  Play therapy, in which some theories are evidence-based, is often used with children to enhance social and emotional growth.  It can minimize symptoms related to abuse/neglect, attention deficits, aggressive behaviors, autism, anxiety, bullying (targets and bullying behaviors), chronic illness, depression, grief, oppositional defiance, post traumatic stress, reactive attachment, selective mutism, and sleeping/eating challenges.  Play therapy can help children (and adults) with the following (Goldstein, 2012; Homeyer & Sweeny, 2011; Schaefer & Drewes, 2014):
  • Attachment and Bonding
  • ​Attention Span
  • Assertion
  • Cardiovascular Fitness
  • Change Adaptation
  • Creative and Abstract Thinking​​
  • Emotional Regulation​
  • Empowerment
  • Language Skills (although not required for play therapy!)​
  • Problem Sovling
  • ​Safe Feeling Expression​​
  • ​​Self-Awareness​​
  • Self-Control
  • Self-Esteem
  • Social Competence
  • Stress Relief​
To learn more about play therapy, see the Association for Play Therapy's website and view the videos below.
Brainspotting is a relational and neurological (brain/body based) treatment.  Through the visual field (relevant eye positions), clients can communicate with their subcortical brain and locate the spot that accesses deeply stored memories and needs (Grand, 2013).  Trapped creativity, thinking patterns, pain, trauma, grief,  etc. can be released via an supportive relationship that allows clients to listen to, attune to, and regulate their brain/body messages.  Brainspotting is frequently combined with BioLateral sound (regulating music).  Research has shared its ability to treat anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, survivors of community violence, and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)/dissociative trauma.  It is also well-known for its use with:
  • Athletes to improve performance
  • Professionals of the creative arts (e.g., actors, musicians, painters) to enhance creativity
  • Individuals who have experienced complex trauma, chronic pain, grief, obsessive compulsions, attachment challenges/adoption, and addiction to re-energize the brain-body connection

SAND THERAPY

Sand therapy is a form of counseling that uses sandtray materials to process internal and relational issues in a non-verbal manner (Homeyer & Sweeney, 2011).  Sand therapy is often helpful for individuals, couples, and families who feel stuck or who have challenges communicating or expressing themselves verbally (whether developmentally or regarding a specific event, issue, or need).  Play Wellness provides non-judgmental and protected sand space​ that gives freedom to your unconscious mind to help you on your journey towards healing!  Sand therapy can help people of all ages with (Homeyer & Sweeny, 2011):
  • Anxiety Reduction
  • Feeling Awareness
  • Change Adaptation
  • Communication​
  • Freedom from Judgement
  • Emotional Regulation
  • Empowerment
  • Focusing
  • Preoperational Processing
  • Problem Solving
  • Respite from Pain
  • ​Safe Feeling Expression​​​​
  • Self-Awareness
  • Self-Esteem
  • Self-Exploration
  • Self-Expression
  • Setting Boundaries
  • Soothing

GAME THERAPY

Game therapy is a form of counseling that uses board, electronic, and other games to enhance personal and relational wellness in a safe and fun environment (Fountain, 2017).  Play Wellness integrates games into counseling to promote healthy communication and interactions with teens, families, and groups.   Games are selected based on therapeutic use and developmental level to enhance overall functioning and well-being.  Game therapy can enhance the following (Schaefer & Cangelosi, 2016):
  • Attentiveness
  • Coping Skills
  • Communication Skills
  • Empowerment
  • ​Executive Functioning
  • Healthy Competition
  • Healthy Relationships
  • Mastery
  • Metaphorical Teaching
  • Mood management
  • Moral development
  • Problem Solving
  • ​​​Self-Awareness​​
  • Self-Control
  • Self-Esteem
  • Social Connectedness / Skills
  • Stress Relief​

TALK THERAPY

Play Wellness utilizes traditional talk / processing therapy with teens and adults who are capable of and/or prefer to verbalize their concerns and needs.  Evidence-based talk therapies include Person Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),  Gestalt Therapy, and Narrative Therapy.   Play Wellness offers service flexibility for talk therapy, including in the office, online (telemental health), or via counseling concierge (at the office, home, or retirement community).  When appropriate and with the client's agreement, talk therapy may be combined with brainspotting or non-verbal therapies (e.g., sandtray therapy, play therapy activities, game therapy) to enhance mental health care.