What Parents Need to Know When Taking Your Child to Play Therapy
Play Therapy, Mental Health, Emotional Health Dr. Julie Hanks, PhD, LCSW Play Therapy, Mental Health, Emotional Health Dr. Julie Hanks, PhD, LCSW

What Parents Need to Know When Taking Your Child to Play Therapy

Deciding to take yourself to therapy can be a vulnerable and scary step for anyone and is filled with lots of unknowns. Bringing your child to therapy can feel just as vulnerable and scary for both you and your child. Here are some things you can expect when you decide to bring your child to therapy for the first time.

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Five Do’s and Don’ts of Separation Anxiety
Adolescents, Anxiety, Attachment, Children, Mental Health, Parenting, Play Therapy Dr. Julie Hanks, PhD, LCSW Adolescents, Anxiety, Attachment, Children, Mental Health, Parenting, Play Therapy Dr. Julie Hanks, PhD, LCSW

Five Do’s and Don’ts of Separation Anxiety

If you have a child who is struggling with separation anxiety you’ve probably been searching for separation anxiety tips to help ease their struggle. Here are five do’s and don’ts for helping your child with separation anxiety.

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What Are The Benefits of Play Therapy?
Play Therapy, Mental Health Courtney VanDermyden, CMHC Play Therapy, Mental Health Courtney VanDermyden, CMHC

What Are The Benefits of Play Therapy?

As a child therapist I’m often asked by parents what play therapy even is and what the benefits are. Just like when restaurants offer a children’s menu and an adult’s menu, what children need from therapy will look different to what adults need. As adults we are used to talk therapy where maybe we come in, sit down, talk about what’s going on and leave with ideas and tools. But play therapy can be very different from that. Why? Because play is the language of children.

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You’ve Got Dragons: An Upcoming Story Time at Wasatch Family Therapy
Mental Health, Emotional Health Rachel Rose, LMFT Mental Health, Emotional Health Rachel Rose, LMFT

You’ve Got Dragons: An Upcoming Story Time at Wasatch Family Therapy

My colleague, Amy Lambert LCSW, and I are hosting a one-day workshop for kids ages 6-11 who experience anxiety in learning how to help themselves increase their ability to access their rational brains, meaning they will be better able to problem solve what to do when they feel overwhelmed by their anxiety.

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Play Therapy for Adults: How Play Therapy Can Help Your Healing Journey
Mental Health, Emotional Health, Play Therapy Olivia Nash, LCSW Mental Health, Emotional Health, Play Therapy Olivia Nash, LCSW

Play Therapy for Adults: How Play Therapy Can Help Your Healing Journey

When people hear that I use play therapy with my clients, frequently I am asked if I ever use play therapy with adults. And the answer is yes! The questions that follow are, “Really? What is that like? And why is that helpful?” Play therapy is an approach that uses play to access emotions and beliefs in order to facilitate change and healing. Though it may look different at each life stage, play is essential for all ages. And play therapy may look different for each life stage as well.

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