Trauma-Focused Therapy

TBRI is a holistic, attachment-based intervention model designed to help children and youth who have experienced trauma and their families.  It focuses on building trust and healthy attachment through three principles: Connecting; Empowering; and Correcting. It is evidence based to improve behaviors and meet emotional needs.  TBRI is an approach for the entire family system and we will encourage all family members to be a part of this treatment.

Theraplay® is a child and family therapy approach focused on building and strengthening the parent-child relationship through playful, interactive engagement. It's based on attachment theory and healthy parent-child interactions, aiming to foster secure attachment, positive self-esteem, and trust. Theraplay is  an evidence-based practice and can be used for a variety of issues such as attachment difficulties; trauma and related effects; behavioral problems; and developmental disabilities.  Children learn best through play and with adults who delight in them so Theraplay is an approach we use with parents present in the counseling room with their child for best results.

EMDR is a therapy treatment designed to alleviate the distress associated with traumatic memories and other disturbing life experiences.

EMDR therapy is based on the idea that trauma can disrupt the brain's natural ability to process experiences, causing traumatic memories to become "stuck" and easily triggered. The therapy aims to help the brain reprocess these memories through bilateral stimulation, such as rhythmic eye movements or other alternating sensory input, while the client focuses on the distressing memory. This dual focus helps the brain process the memory, reducing its emotional intensity and creating new associations. Many clients enjoy EMDR because it can provide faster results without recounting all details of the trauma incurred.  It is also addresses the connections between our mind, body, and emotions.  It is evidence based for treatment for both adults and children.  

ART® is a type of therapy for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other conditions. ART uses bilateral stimulation such as eye movements or other sensory input while focusing on memories or negative body sensations.  It uses imagery and metaphors to help relieve emotional triggers and replace them with positive healing messages.  It also can provide faster relief and does not require recounting entire trauma narratives. This therapy is used for both adults and children who have experienced trauma or are experiencing distressing emotional symptoms. 

MIM is a structured observation technique used to assess the quality of the interaction between a child and their primary caregiver. It is a key tool in Theraplay, a type of therapy focused on strengthening parent-child attachment. 

The purpose of the MIM is to help clinicians understand the nature of the child-caregiver relationship, pinpoint areas of difficulty and strength, and inform treatment planning.  It is video assessment of a caregiver and child as they engage in a series of simple, structured tasks. These tasks are designed to elicit behaviors in the four key dimensions of a parent/child relationship: Structure, Engagement, Nurture and Challenge.

Narrative work within adoption therapy refers to the use of narrative therapy principles and techniques to help individuals and families involved in adoption understand, integrate, and reframe their adoption stories in ways that promote healing, empowerment, and a stronger sense of self and family. Narrative work helps adoptees understand their past and build their identity.  It allows space for them to address past traumatic events and find their strengths and resilience.  It allows adoptees to reclaim their story as their own.  Narrative work done in conjunction with family therapy allows adoptees and their parents to build attachment while helping understand their story, heal from trauma, and build a positive self-identity.