- Why must parents work with a parenting specialist for the child to be seen?
- We believe in both a collaborative and family systems approach to therapy. We find the best therapeutic results come from caregivers being supported and learning tools/techniques as the child is also being supported. Please keep in mind parenting sessions are typically not as frequent as play therapy sessions.
- Why do both therapists have to be in the initial session when my child is being seen?
- Parents work with a parenting specialist for the child to be seen. In the initial session, both the parenting specialist and the child therapist will be present to hear the family history, goals, and concerns. Each therapist will share the way they work with clients and what the collaborative approach will look like.
- Why are there multiple copays due for the initial session?
- As both the parenting specialist and the child therapist are present in the initial session, there will be a co-pay due for each of them. Please note this is the only time you will owe the intake fees.
- Why does the paperwork need to be completed before the initial session?
- Completing the paperwork ahead prior to your appointment is the most effective use of your time. We open the initial session with time for questions and a review of the paperwork.
- If I have multiple therapists working with my family, what does communication look like between them?
- The play therapist and the parenting specialist are copied in all e-mail messages to assure clear communication. The Stone Center staff also meets every 2 weeks to connect and coordinate care for clients.
- Why do I need to include both my child’s therapist and my parenting specialist in e-mail communication?
- We ask clients to include both the child’s therapist and parenting specialist in all e-mail communication in order to keep everyone on the same page. While we understand it may seem redundant at times, it helps us to reduce miscommunication and therefore provide a better experience for our clients.
- Why is the initial session just with the caregivers?
- Our office emphasizes the importance of not talking about a child in front of them. The purpose of the initial session is not only to gather information from caregivers that would be helpful before beginning the therapeutic process with a child, but also to determine if the therapist will be a good match for the child. Please note at the end of the session, the child therapist will provide you will language to introduce play therapy. We recommend attending the initial meeting before sharing any details with your child.
How to Respond When…
- Child brings artwork from playroom
- Instead of using a praise response such as “great job” or “I love it,” try using an encouraging phrase such as “you must have worked so hard on that” or “I can tell you are proud of your creation!” By using an encouraging response, you will help foster something called internal validation (basically, you will help your child feel good about themself and their efforts from the inside out). Another way you could respond is just to reflect, or make noticings. This might sound like, “wow, look at all of those colors!” or“you really used a lot of detail!”
- Child says he/she “just played”
- It’s important to keep in mind that play is meaningful. Children project their feelings through play. Children also problem solve through play. If your child says they “just played,” you can respond with curiosity saying, “Oh, good. I would love to hear more about it if you choose to share with me.”
- Child doesn’t want to share, keeps time private
- It is typical for children to choose to keep their special playroom time to themselves. Sometimes this exhibits empowerment or control. We encourage caregivers to again “be curious” and resist probing. You could respond, “It sure is important for you to keep your special time private, that is your choice! I would love to hear about it when and if you choose to share with me.”
- Child doesn’t want to walk to playroom
- It is okay for your child to feel resistant, hesitant, hostile, or just to simply have had a hard day! Typically, if the child is okay with it, we might ask if we can talk to them or just sit with them for a moment and get some more information about how they are feeling. We will meet your child where he or she is at. Oftentimes, once a child feels heard and understood, they are open to going to the playroom. Please do not reprimand your child for feeling resistant. Your parent specialist will help you with how to address this from a parenting perspective.
- You’re tempted to use the play therapy session as positive or negative reinforcement
- Play therapy should not be taken away from your child for bad behavior or earned by them for good behavior. Play therapy should be consistently scheduled and viewed as a safe space that your child can expect to experience no matter how their day goes. Your parenting specialist can help you come up with other ways to use reinforcement.
- You’d like to update the therapist
- While the therapist would be glad to hear updates that feel important from caregivers, the therapist is not going to talk about the child in front of them. Please send an email, leave a voicemail, or write a note to discreetly hand to the therapist or office manager if there is something pressing.
- Child invites you in the playroom
- Occasionally, your child might have something special to share with you in the playroom. Your child’s therapist and your child will invite you into the room to witness or hear whatever it is that feels important. It is okay to be curious and ask questions or to just acknowledge what they have shared. Your child’s therapist might help guide you with responses.
- How to explain play therapy to the child
- You will be emailed a social story about going to play therapy after the initial session. Please share this with your child before their first session. The story will help with appropriate language to use and will provide pictures for your child. We find that the best way to explain play therapy to children is to describe it as “a special place that you will be able to play through all of your big feelings.” Please note that children like to know their caregiver(s) have a special room and person, too. It is helpful to normalize for your child that you have big feelings as well.
- Child wants to bring something into the playroom
- Caregivers may wonder if a child is allowed to bring an item into the playroom they’ve brought from home. We welcome children to bring in whatever they may feel is important to them, with the exception of electronic devices.