Kids & Family Therapy

Kids and Family Therapy

“We are hardwired to connect with others, it is what gives purpose and meaning to our lives, and without it there is suffering.” – Brene Brown

Why would kids need therapy?

Therapy can be supportive for kids of all ages if they have experienced significant change or trauma such as:

loss of a loved one
parents’ separation or divorce
witnessing or surviving abuse or violence
significant move or school transition
adoption or foster care

Therapy can also be helpful for children who have experienced symptoms including but not limited to: anxiety, depression, behavior issues, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts.

How does family therapy work? How does it help?

Family therapy is when two or more members of a family attend therapy together. Our closest relationships deeply form us. They have potential to be deeply hurtful as well as profoundly healing. By working with the family all in the same room together, changes can occur for the whole family. This has the potential to save both time and money while more effectively creating positive change! When the family can heal together, it contributes to decreasing symptoms like anxiety, depression, and behavior problems.

What kinds of things can we work on in family therapy?

Family therapy can be used to:

strengthen attachment
resolve conflict
create healthy boundaries
increase effective communication
and more!

What is play therapy? How does it help?

Play is the language of children. Therefore, play therapy is an effective modality for young children still developing the vocabulary and developmental skills necessary for talk therapy.

Through play, children are often able to reenact experiences or patterns that stand out to them. Play creates an opportunity for the child to be in control. They may have faced circumstances where they had no control and this therapy allows them to reprocess events in a way that feels safe. Play therapy is embodied; meaning it can help children use their body as they engage in play in order to move through emotions or events that feel “stuck” inside them.

At The Well, play therapy can include: playdough, books, imaginative play, dolls/puppets, art supplies, games, and more!

What can I expect at The Well if I were to start therapy for my child?

You can expect the first session will include the parents/main caregivers only. This ensures caregivers will have time to share family history and current concerns without having to “filter” or worry about what your child hears. Following this session we will make a plan for what treatment will look like.

Some possibilities are:

attending sessions with your child
the whole family coming in
me individually working with your child
a mix of these options!

Regardless of who is in the therapy sessions, we heavily involve parents in participation, education, and homework. We often only have one hour a week with your child/family, but you always have each other. My goal is to equip you to be able to support your child(ren) in their specific needs in your daily and ongoing life together.

What things should I consider before starting therapy for my child or with my family?

It is helpful to consider the time and effort this will require of you/your family. This would include the time to attend sessions weekly or biweekly and to complete any “homework” or implement new techniques practiced in therapy. Committing to this will ensure your family gets the most out of the experience.

We specialize with kids 3-12 years old, teens and their families.

These are some of the modalities that we use to help:

Sand Tray Therapy
Play Therapy
Expressive Arts Therapy
Circle of Security: A research-based attachment focused program to create safe relationships.
Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
Trauma-informed Care: focusing on the unique needs when traumatic experiences are causing distress and suffering within a family system.

Not sure if this is for you?

Reach out for a free 15 minute consultation to see if this is the right next step.

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Healing Happens Together.

We aren’t meant to do this life alone. Your relationships matter and it’s okay to need some help. We are trained in supporting relationships to build resilience, move through conflict, develop new ways of communicating, and repair hurts.

Schedule a Free Consultation

There are many ways to connect with us. You can fill out this form and we will get in touch with you. Or you can schedule directly on our calendars for a free 15 minute consultation during a time you know already works for you.

We would love to connect first and find out what your needs are! When it comes to therapy…it really matters that you find the right fit! We have a team of highly trained and warm, down to earth, creative therapists. If we aren’t the right fit, we will help you find resources to take the next step. Reach out here and we will get you started.

If you are experiencing an emergency:
Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center, text MHA to 741741, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.

We are a private practice that offer a range of cash pay services. We partner with Mentaya to support your out-of-network insurance benefits and can use an easy benefits calculator to see what your reimbursement will be. We also accept HSA/FSA and partner with Arizona ESA for students.