Methods
More information about a few of the methods we utlize


Child Play Therapy
Play therapy sessions occur every week and are minutes long. In a session, your child will play and have fun. Not every session will be fun, but many will be.
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Every child is different; therefore, time in therapy may look different. The child’s level of care is continually assessed. The average time spent in treatment is 20- 25 sessions depending on the child's needs.
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I won’t be telling caregivers everything that happens in the playroom to respect the child’s process. In other words, you won’t get a play-by-play description of everything your child did and said in the session. However, I will talk about themes & patterns seen in the playroom and use these themes and patterns to address the child's needs.
Monthly meetings are called “Care Conferences.” This is an opportunity for the parents/caregivers and the therapist to check in about the child’s progress and any concerns or questions.
Children Work Problems Out Through Play


Couple Therapy
There’s a common misconception that couples only need counseling when their relationship is in crisis. However, couples therapy is a specific psychotherapy modality that helps improve communication skills, recognize and resolve conflicts, and build healthy, loving relationships. The approach used for couples therapy at Beacon of Hope is the Gottman Method.
Gottman Method
The Gottman Method is designed to support couples across all economic, racial, sexual orientation, and cultural sectors. Research has shown the Gottman Method of Couples Therapy to be effective in treating same-sex relationships.
The goals of Gottman Method Couples Therapy are to disarm conflicting verbal communication, increase intimacy, respect, and affection, remove barriers that create a feeling of stagnancy in conflicting situations, and create a heightened sense of empathy and understanding.
Interventions used in the Gottman Method are research-based and grounded in the Sound Relationship House theory, which specifies nine elements of a healthy relationship.


Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT stands for dialectical behavior therapy. It’s an intensive, structured kind of therapy that can help kids and teens who have a lot of trouble handling their strong emotions. DBT works by combining two sets of skills. The first, called mindfulness, helps kids understand and accept difficult feelings. The second, a treatment called CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy), teaches them how to change their feelings and behavior.

DBT Groups
Beacon of Hope offers DBT group therapy targeted towards teenagers 13-18.
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Teens learn and practice DBT skills that they can use to regulate emotions and behaviors, enhance mood, improve relationships and engage in effective problem solving and communication.
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For more information or referrals, visit our DBT group page
