Group and Play Therapy

Group Therapy is a interactive, supportive and safe environment of 5-7 individuals with a common life experience or concern. Group serves as a safe space for individuals to explore grievances with other individual’s who are going through similar things. In addition to peer support, group serves as a place to learn and develop skills and tools for improved well-being through hearing other’s experiences, perspectives and what may have helped them. Group members are in various stages of their journey to self-fulfillment which can provide hope to other members. The therapist’s role is to facilitate the group, review group rules (often the group assists in creating these, minus confidentiality which is a must), ensure group is a safe environment, re-direct members as needed, serving as a role model and providing therapeutic techniques and support. Depending on the type of group, the therapist will takes a direct or passive stance. A therapist will generally take a direct stance in a educational or curriculum based group and a more passive stance in a support group. Examples of types of groups are: grief and loss support group, substance abuse group, social skills group, sexual abuse or trauma group, and divorce/separation support group.

Group is a hour to an hour and fifteen and meets once a week. Groups are generally run for 12 weeks with potential to become ongoing, on an as needed basis. Groups are offered early in the morning, evenings or on Saturdays for a convenient hassle free time. Due to the pandemic group therapy is currently being offered virtually.

Play Therapy is a non-directive interactive therapy reserved for youth ages 4-10, or individual’s that are developmentally this age. Through doll house, sand play and other carefully selected toy items, themes can be seen in play that reveal a child’s concerns and demonstrate how the child functions and relates to others. For instance burying figures in sand, is indicative of a secret or anxieties. Often how a child plays with dolls, i.e. yelling at other dolls or therapist is a clue of how a child interacts with others. A child removing the father figure doll is indicative of family dynamics at home. Or a child will re-enact a distressing event that has experienced, such as witnessing domestic violence. Occasionally, I implement and integrate art therapy in with play therapy, to include drawings of family or feelings.

Play therapy session are 45 minutes once a week or every other week.

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