Services/Treatments

The Children’s Safety Project incorporates multiple different therapies and techniques in its treatment. Services are available in both English and Spanish.

Individual Counseling | Child-Parent Psychotherapy | Play Therapy | Sand tray Therapy | Family Therapy | Group Counseling | Parent Support Services | Personal Safety Services | Community Education

Individual therapy Depending on the child’s particular situation and level of development, a variety of approaches may be used. These may include traditional talk therapy, cognitive approaches using structured workbooks, play therapy, art therapy, and sandtray therapy.

Child-Parent Psychotherapy A new evidence-based program component that addresses child-parent attachment for children from infancy to seven years of age in the wake of abuse and trauma. This treatment was created by Alicia Lieberman, Ph.D. and Patricia Van Horn, Ph.D. for families with children from infancy to age seven that have experienced domestic violence, abuse and other violent traumas. The experience of Children’s Safety Project staff with children between the ages of three and five has provided ample evidence of the compelling need for treatment for our youngest clients, focusing on the parent-child connection, and on facilitating the parent’s ability to serve as a secure figure of attachment to the child.

Play therapy Children who are not yet old enough to formulate their thoughts and feelings in words are able to express themselves powerfully through the language of play. Using evocative materials that include dolls, puppets, miniatures, building toys, doctor kits, and art supplies, they are able to share their concerns and tell us how they view their world. In turn, the therapist is able to use the play to communicate understanding and help the child towards new ways of thinking and behaving.

Sand tray therapy Through the use of a specially designed sand tray, and miniatures representing literally everything in the universe, children are able to create “worlds” that provide a window into their inner lives.

Art therapy Through the process of creating art, individuals can be helped to increase their awareness and understanding, and cope with stress and traumatic experiences.

Family therapy Abuse and domestic violence have an impact on everyone in the family. Family therapy can help the nonoffending family members understand each others’ responses to what has occurred, and teach them new and better ways of relating to one another.

Group counseling Group members who have had similar experiences are able to provide support for one another while learning about new ways to cope with their ongoing life challenges.

Parent support Optimal family support is essential to children’s healing. Nonoffending parents play an integral role in treatment. They are seen for ongoing counseling, telephone guidance, and occasional family sessions in order to help them understand and address the impact that abuse and domestic violence has had on their children’s lives. In some situations, parents may be provided with an individual therapist of their own in order to help them deal with their own personal responses to trauma.

Psychiatric services A psychiatrist is available for diagnostic services and medication evaluation/management.

Advocacy Advocacy is an essential component of ensuring that children recover over under conditions of safety and security. Therapists collaborate with the legal system, child protection system, foster care workers, schools, and other providers to ensure that clients’ rights are protection and that they receive the attention and services to which they are entitled.

Community and professional education Staff provides consultation, educative talks, and trainings about subjects related to abuse, domestic violence, and child therapy, to community and professional groups, as well as to other Greenwich House programs.