Counseling/Therapy

Counseling is often delayed to child victims and their families because of the financial burden it places on the family. Through a grant from the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), the Center provides referrals and funding for counseling to children and families who have received services and need assistance. A referral is made at the time services are received and the family is able to immediately access counseling which is crucial to the healing process.

Types of Therapy

Play Therapy

Play Therapy has been found to be effective with children who have been victims of abuse. Since children's language skills are not fully developed, they communicate through play and activity. By manipulating toys and the environment, they recreate situations they find confusing, frustrating, or painful. By freely expressing themselves with art and other unstructured materials, they experiment with various coping mechanisms and solutions that work for them. Abuse victims often feel betrayed; a healthy, positive relationship with a skilled play therapist helps rebuild trust. Abuse victims may also hold their feelings inside, then erupt inappropriately with violence and destructive behavior. Play therapy provides a safe, supervised environment for expressing feelings.

Family Therapy

Families may receive therapy as a unit. Improved relationships among family members and relief from the stress related to the abuse are some ways families may receive help.