Play is the Language of Childhood.
At Madeline Mental Health, we use two evidence-based types of play therapy to meet your child's specific needs.
Sensory Motor Arousal and Regulation Treatment (or SMART for short) is an innovative form of mental health therapy for kids that employs our sensory processing systems to support nervous system regulation.
Child Centered Play Therapy is the oldest form of play therapy with one of the strongest evidence-bases for lasting behavioral change in kids who are struggling with a wide range of issues including anxiety, ADHD, Autism, trauma, behavioral issues, low self-esteem and more.
Traditional talk therapy works for some, but for many kids, healing is best accomplished through play, movement, and connection in-person with a therapist who gets it. That's why our specialty is providing play therapy-- a developmentally appropriate mental health intervention designed for kids ages 3-14 that centers your child as a whole person and allows kids to process their experiences of the world in their natural language.
Kids are not rational. As adults, we talk through our problems to try to make sense of them, feel better, and change our unhelpful patterns. The rational thinking part of children's brains are still developing though, and they're not yet able to use words to talk about what they need to be working on in therapy. The emotional part of kids brains is developed though, and the way they communicate about their emotions is through their play.
This unique combination of tried-and-true treatment with the innovative addition of SMART's approach to sensory integration, we have the skills to support your child with whatever they're bringing into the room.
Play Therapy might be right for your child if they...
Struggle with emotional and behavioral regulation
Your days may be filled with emotional meltdowns, tantrums, difficulty getting them to follow directions, and overall challenging behavior you or your child's teachers struggle to manage.
Are struggling with low self-esteem
You're hearing lots of negative self-talk like "I'm bad. I'm terrible. I can't do this. Nobody likes me." And no amount of reassurance that this is not true seems to help them shift their mindset.
Are sensory-seekers or are difficult to settle
They’re constantly climbing, spinning, running, jumping or flipping upside down. Maybe their clothes need to feel or fit a certain way, are always chewing on something, have trouble sleeping, or frequent headaches and stomach aches.
Have difficulty using language to express themselves
You know they’re trying to tell you something with their behavior, but they don’t yet have the skills to process feelings and problems using words with you, peers, teachers, or therapists.
Have experienced trauma
Trauma comes in many forms and all can have an impact on your child's mental health and functioning, no matter when it happened or how minor it may seem.
Are anxious, withdrawn or shut down
Your child is a frequent worrier, has withdrawn from you, their teachers or friends, complains of stomach-aches often has trouble sleeping, or appears numb or in "their own little world."
Haven't been successful in traditional forms of therapy
Maybe you've tried counseling before and your child refused to go, didn't want to engage with the therapist, wasn't getting meaningful work done, or struggled to stay physically safe during sessions.
Have difficulty with friendships, social skills, and perspective taking
Your child is struggling to make or keep friends, play with others, accept other's ideas in play, or understand other people's perspectives
What can I expect when my child begins Play Therapy?
An Intake Session:
We'll spend time getting to know one another. I'll take a comprehensive history of your child's background, strengths, and needs, and answer all of your questions about SMART and Child Centered Play Therapy.
Treatment Planning:
We'll collaboratively define your child's goals for therapy and I'll design a treatment plan specific to their needs. We'll include your child's voice in the treatment planning process as much as possible. I'll ask to connect with any other relevant professionals on your child's team (pediatrician, psychiatrist, school-based team, etc.) as needed.
Therapy Sessions Begin:
Your child will come to the playroom and lead the way through creative play and movement. I'll support them every step of the way, guiding progress towards their treatment goals. SMART therapy in particular may involve physical touch from the clinician to scaffold physical movement (think: a helping hand to cross a balance beam) however, SMART is NOT a touch-based therapy like occupational therapy or physical therapy.
Ongoing Caregiver Involvement:
We will schedule dedicated caregiver sessions every 4-8 weeks depending on treatment goals to discuss progress and updates both in and out of the playroom.
What does our playroom look like?
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Jump on the trampoline
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"Swim" in our ball pit
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Bounce on physioballs
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Launch onto the crash pad
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Toss weighted balls
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Snuggle into a body sock
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Crawl through the rainbow tunnel
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Spin on our swivel chair
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Balance on rocker boards
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Rest under a weighted blanket
In addition to traditional imaginative play toys (like blocks, legos, dolls, art supplies, play doh, cars and trucks, board games, etc.) we also have a wide variety of sensory play tools available to clients because of our unique integration of the SMART model into the play therapy room. Our kids love to...
Ready to get moving?
30 Domino Drive
Suite 1
Concord, MA
(978) 219-4948
