Thinking like a child

How did you communicate 10 years ago? 
How about when you were 4, 8 or 12 years old? 

As adults, we often think we can talk logic to a child or that they should understand what we want after we’ve repeated ourselves 20 times. In reality, our adult words can seem like a foreign language to a child, especially when they feel emotional.  Here at Directions Counseling Group, we apply the therapeutic power of play to communicate with and treat children. 

Play therapy allows a child to think about themselves and the world on a smaller scale.  Both the relationship with the counselor and the environment in which they meet should be designed to relieve stress and improve self-expression, self-awareness and developmental skills. Garry Landreth, author of Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship, says, “In play therapy, toys are like the child’s words and play is the child’s language.”

In addition to communicating effectively with a child-client, there is also tremendous value placed on the environment in which the therapist meets with the child.  With that in mind, Directions Counseling Group has just completed a major renovation of the Play Therapy Room and you are invited to take a peek on October 24. 

We have carefully selected colors, toys, games and other creative mediums that will help children express themselves.  In addition to being therapeutic, we feel confident that children of all ages will enjoy coming to counseling when they experience this inviting, safe space.

Join us on Friday, October 24 
to see our Newly Renovated
PLAY THERAPY ROOM

Our Open House will introduce our referral sources to the newly renovated play therapy room. Even if you don’t work with children, please join us to tour our practice and meet many of our other counselors and social workers who provide services to adults, couples and the elderly. Knowing this is a Friday night, we’re inviting you to also bring your family, as we will have activities and crafts for elementary aged children.

RSVP by Monday, October 21 to: 614-888-9200 or info@directionscounseling.com

October is ADHD Awareness Month

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD/ADHD) is one of the most prevalent and misunderstood conditions in the world, according to Sarah D. Wright, ADHD Awareness Month Coalition Chair. Directions Counseling Group has joined this education movement to create greater awareness and understanding about attention deficit disorder by preparing a short video entitled “Adult ADHD – what others see and what’s actually taking place,” which can be found on YouTube.
 
Leslie Marshall, MA, LPCC-S, Chief Operating Officer at Directions Counseling Group, specializes in adult ADHD and states, “My hope is that when adults with ADHD see this, they have a moment when they realize, ‘There’s a reason why my brain works like this’,” says Marshall.
 
“Our goal is to educate men and women about ADHD, to dispel myths that keep people from seeking appropriate treatment, and to provide tools to help minimize the impact of this disorder,” she continues. 

See the video here:



Directions Counseling Group will be releasing short videos highlighting various mental health conditions throughout the next few months.