PLAY THERAPY
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
COUPLES/FAMILY THERAPY
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THERAPY
PLAY THERAPY
Liebling Counseling Specializes in Play Therapy!
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a structured, theoretically based approach to therapy that builds on the normal communicative and learning processes of children (Carmichael, 2006; Landreth, 2002; O'Connor & Schaefer, 1983).
For children, play is their natural language. Children express themselves and experience the world through the use of play long before they develop the language and reasoning capacity to be successfully involved in traditional “talk therapy”. Play Therapy can be a very powerful and effective tool for children to resolve their problems. Play Therapy is different in that the therapist helps children to address and resolve their own problems. Through play therapy children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem-solving skills and develop a variety of ways to relate to others.
In play therapy, toys are like the child's words and play is the child's language (Landreth, 2002). Through play therapists may help children learn more adaptive behaviors when there are emotional or social skills deficits (Pedro-Carroll & Reddy, 2005).
Play Therapy traditionally has been utilized with children but recent research is showing effectiveness for all ages. Play therapy can be appropriate for children, adults, couples and families. Play Therapy allows children to change the way they think about, feel toward and resolve their concerns (Kaugers & Russ, 2001).
For more information regarding Play Therapy please ask Stephanie Liebling, LSCSW or read more at www.a4pt.org .
Please contact us with any questions, concerns or if you would like more information about Liebling Counseling or therapy in general. The contact page has our address, phone number as well as a helpful map and directions to the office.
INDIVIDUAL THERAPY
What is Individual Therapy?
Life throws many challenges our way at various stages. Individual therapy services can be beneficial for dealing with adjustments in our life, depression, grief and loss as well as many other issues. Individual therapy is what most people think of when referring to mental health therapy. Often when life’s stresses become overwhelming and a person’s ability to handle those stresses breaks down, people seek out therapeutic intervention.
Individual therapy can be in combination with family or group therapy and medications (psychopharmacology) when needed. Individual therapy can include techniques culled from play therapy, art therapy, psychoanalytic theory, behavioral theory, family systems or developmental theories.
Our Work with Children and Their Parents Individual therapy with children and adolescents, Children/Adolescents:
A very important part of Liebling Counseling involves children and their parents. Stephanie has been active in the provision of services to children and their parents for 10 years!
Children are referred to therapy for a wide range of problems. Often these children have used up their limited set of problem solving skills and need support to strengthen those skills as well as develop new skills. Many times children have developed coping skills that can be counter-productive so we need to create replacement skills for those children before they can relinquish their current set of behaviors.
Often children have already had many labels given to them: stubborn, defiant, ADHD, behavior disordered. Liebling Counseling practices the Strengths model – looking for the positive aspects and internal strengths of a child using those inherent strengths to support developing new skills.
Part of the process includes meeting with parents to assess their child's needs, making a plan to meet those needs, and providing therapy and support. That support includes frequent communication with parents about the issues of parenting their unique child, and accessing support in the community through self-help groups and organizations. Additionally we communicate with the child’s pediatrician and school personnel as needed.
Therapy with Adults
Sometimes individuals have needs related to work, stress, childhood issues, or relationships. We want to help. Life can be very difficult at times, and a caring therapist who listens and understands can be very important in helping with the changes that life sometimes requires of us. At times an individual’s pool of resources to handle issues in life runs out. Liebling Counseling can be your oasis, a place where you find just what your heart needs to get you over the rough spots.
Individual therapy involves making decisions about goals you want to achieve and entering into an agreement with the therapist to work on those goals. Our work with adults includes individual therapy with men and women, as well as couples counseling, and marriage counseling.
COUPLES/FAMILY THERAPY ...
Couples & family therapy
The first bond we have in life is with our family. Family therapy can be a challenging and rewarding process to re-connect family members, strengthen that bond and move forward in life. We understand that in all relationships there is conflict. If you spend enough time with anyone, conflicts will naturally arise. We strive to help couples manage conflict in a manner that is much more positive than negative, and create a relationship of hope and freshness. If you are struggling in your relationship, maybe it’s time to spend some time with a trained, experienced counselor who will understand you and your loved one, and accept you where you are.
Couples and family therapy is very similar to individual therapy and often springs from an individual entering individual therapy. Often through individual therapy it becomes clear that concerns are part of an interaction between family members and their cooperation in couples or family therapy greatly benefits everyone in the family.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN THERAPY
At your first visit we ask you to fill several forms detailing a general history, the specific problem that brought you to therapy …. Additionally you will be provided with an overview of your privacy rights and a summary of policies. These policies detail issues regarding privacy, confidentiality, HIPPA and mandated reporting laws. After reviewing the appropriate forms and policies we will discuss your reasons for seeking therapy and briefly outline a course of treatment.
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