What is Play Therapy?

Play is the natural language of children.  You have probably watched as a young child has acted out things with dolls or action figures.  Play therapy allows a child or adolescent to have a safe place to process their thoughts and feelings about life events and themselves.  Play therapy includes reading story books, doing work books, producing sand trays, creating art, listening to music, participating in movement exercises, and playing games.  Research has shown that play therapy is an effective form of treatment for trauma, grief, loss, changes in families, anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral issues, life stressors, and a variety of other disorders.  Through research, we also know that play therapy can strengthen children's cognitive abilities, increase social interactions, and build communication skills. 

What is EMDR?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a research-based treatment used to reduce psychological stress.  When disturbing, difficult, or frightening life experiences happen, normal coping mechanisms can be overwhelmed.  The memory is inadequately processed and stuck.  This results in one having the same feelings, thoughts, and responses as when the event happened.  This leads people to think that the negative event says something about who they are as a person.  EMDR helps these memories to be processed and helps people no longer define themselves by the negative events in their lives.  EMDR can also be used to increase confidence and strengthen one's ability to self-sooth and perform optimally.

What is NMT?​

The ChildTrauma Academy acknowledges that Karen Sullivan, LCSW, has completed NMT Training Certification through the Phase I level.  For more information on NMT Training Certification and the NMT Assessment Process, click here.