Therapeutic Modalities...

What Is Art Therapy?

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy where art media, the creative process, and the resulting artwork are used to explore feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, foster self-awareness, manage behavior and addictions, develop social skills, improve reality orientation, reduce anxiety, and increase self-esteem (American Art Therapy Association, 2013). No artistic skill is required when engaging in art therapy, and the focus is on the process rather than the product. Art therapy is a method proven to be effective with ages across the lifespan.  

What is EMDR?

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.  Repeated studies show that by using EMDR therapy people can experience the benefits of psychotherapy that once took years to make a difference. It is widely assumed that severe emotional pain requires a long time to heal.  EMDR therapy shows that the mind can in fact heal from psychological trauma much as the body recovers from physical trauma.  When you cut your hand, your body works to close the wound.  If a foreign object or repeated injury irritates the wound, it festers and causes pain.  Once the block is removed, healing resumes.  EMDR therapy demonstrates that a similar sequence of events occurs with mental processes.  The brain’s information processing system naturally moves toward mental health.  If the system is blocked or imbalanced by the impact of a disturbing event, the emotional wound festers and can cause intense suffering.  Once the block is removed, healing resumes.  

(EMDR Institute, 2018)

What is TI-CPP?

TI-CPP (Trauma-Informed Child Parent Psychotherapy) is a treatment for children, ages 0-5, who have been exposed to trauma. The child is seen together with their primary caregiver during the therapeutic work. Supporting and strengthening the caregiver-child relationship is central to the work and is seen as the vehicle for restoring and protecting the mental health of the child. CPP attends to trauma experienced by the child in addition to the experiences of the caregiver and how the caregiver-child relationship is affected. CPP can be conducted with children and their biological, adopted, or foster parents. 

“Enter into children’s play and you will find the place where their minds, hearts & souls meet” - Virginia Axline

What is play therapy?

Play therapy is a form of therapy primarily geared toward children. In this form of therapy, a therapist encourages a child to explore life events that may have an effect on current circumstances, in a manner and pace of the child's choosing, primarily through play but also through language.

Play therapy, can help individuals communicate, explore repressed thoughts and emotions, address unresolved trauma, and experience personal growth and is widely viewed as an important, effective, and developmentally appropriate mental health treatment (good therapy.org, 2108)

What is theraplay?

Theraplay is a child and family therapy for enhancing and building attachment, self-esteem, trust in others, and joyful engagement. It is based on the natural patterns of playful, healthy interaction between parent and child and is personal, physical, and fun. Theraplay interactions focus on four essential qualities found in parent-child relationships: Structure, Engagement, Nurture, and Challenge.

Click here to find out more about The Child & Family Therapy Clinic at The Theraplay Institute.

Theraplay sessions create an active, emotional connection between the child and parent or caregiver, resulting in a changed view of the self as worthy and lovable and of relationships as positive and rewarding. (The Theraplay Institute, 2017)