Counseling
Counseling for Victims of Domestic Violence:
More Information Coming soon
Counseling for Children:
Each child is welcomed and encouraged to participate in receiving individual, group, or family therapy by the Children’s Services Coordinator (CSC). It is the hope that through these counseling services, children can adjust quickly and easily, and heal from the pain caused by the trauma of abuse that they have experienced or witnessed in their lives. Therapy sessions can consist of therapeutic art, therapeutic play, talking, learning new coping skills and positive ways to express emotions, or a combination of all. The parent is encouraged to visit with the CSC (or whomever is conducting the counseling session with the child) to establish expectations, to establish a brief history of the child, and to gain an understanding of the rationale behind the parent’s desire for her child to receive counseling. A counseling session would begin with the CSC (or intern, or other Children’s Team Member) asking specific questions to gain an understanding of the client’s ability to identify and express emotions, to identify and express problem behaviors, and to state why he/she believes they have been referred for counseling. If a child is too young or is behind developmentally, therapeutic play will be used in place of talk therapy.
Non-residential Client Counseling:
Counseling for non-residential clients (people in the community who are not living at the shelter) is available as well. Initial sessions would be conducted using the same form as the residential counseling sessions.