Tuesday, January 9, 2018

New Therapist Option in Seattle and how to find a post Placement Adoption Competent and Trauma Informed Therapist

Hello All!

You survived another year!  Welcome to 2018!  I know it has been a long-time sense I have posted. 

Bethany NOW Offers Therapy in Seattle

I wanted to share that Bethany Christian Services has re-opened our ADOPTS (Addressing Post Adoption Stress in Adoptive Children) and post-placement and adoption therapy program here in the Seattle area!!  Finally, after 4 years, we are small but mighty!  Erica Shutes-David, LMHC and Emily Visser, LMHC are our launching team.  We will also be adding Amy Schaller, LICSW as soon as her license is approved (it is pending) --hopefully in the next couple of months (if not sooner).  All will be working part time in the program. To inquire for Bethany’s counseling programs.  Please go HERE.           

*Bethany is looking for 10 families NOW to start the ADOPTS program.  Are you ready?

What is ADOPTs: https://www.bethany.org/other-services/ADOPTS      
ADOPTS offers an evidence-based, specialized, trauma-focused treatment for adopted children with or without PTSD symptoms. It addresses the impact of traumatic experiences on children prior to adoption and gives them the tools to develop healthier coping skills in a post-traumatic stress situation. Bethany’s therapists support children and their parents with education and caring intervention to help each family thrive—not just survive.
 ADOPTS can help your child cultivate skills to: 
·        Develop healthy expressions of emotions 
·        Understand the effects of past trauma 
·        Increase capacity to form healthy attachments 
·        Build personal strengths and self-identity 

Services will currently, only, be offered in one location, an annex to our Shoreline office, located in Phinney Ridge.  We take Regence, Primera, Most Medicaid covered HMOs (including Coordinated Care) and other private insurance plans. 
If you are interested in learning more about any of our counseling services, please go here: https://www.bethany.org/other-services/family-counseling
Other offices that offer therapy within Bethany:  Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Wisconsin.

Other Adoption Competent Therapists in Washington State:
Northwest Family Life: Amy Barker, LMHC (Lake City/Tacoma), Barbara Tantrum, LMHC, (Lake City/Tacoma), Lisa Jeffries, LMHC (Bellingham), Chris Cochran, LMHC (Bellingham), Kelli Hall, LICSW (Kirkland/Bellevue), Lindsay Dye, LMHC (Kennewick), Cindy Ridgeway, LMHC (Tacoma), Lesley Joy Ritchie, LMHCA (Lake City)

A Place for Home (List of therapists Trained by Deborah Gray, LICSW and trained in Foster care and Adoption Therapy) (Washington: Bremerton, Vancouver, Seattle, Kennewick, Lynnwood, Bellevue, Vashon, Poulsbo, Bainbridge Island, Kirkland, Renton, Puyallup, Oregon:  Hillsboro, Portland, Astoria, Canada: Vancouver, BC)

Finding the Right Therapist for you
Looking for an adoption competent Therapist can be hugely challenging.  A couple of things to keep in mind.  Not all therapists are created equal and you need to find one that understands you and your child.  Any adoption competent therapist needs to include you, as the parent in the therapy.  Therapy for youth under 12 just is not effective without a parent helping to implement the strategies.  Think about it this way, would your child learn to do math problems if they only had one hour of math a week and never practiced at home, never did homework?  It is the same with therapy.  Would your child do their homework if you were not there to prompt them and guide them and sometimes even help them?  It is the same with therapy.  Do you need to treat your children differently in how you approach them with chores or even homework?  Therapy works the same way, you need to learn about your child and what works best for them. That is part of how a trauma competent, adoption competent therapist should help you and your child, and your family.
According to Dr. Judith Cohen, MD Medical Director, Center for Traumatic Stress in Children & Adolescents at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Any form of child intervention related to anxiety/trauma need to involve parent—the best interventions include the following: PRACTICE

·         Psycho-education of parents-increase parents’ knowledge/awareness
·         Relaxation Skills-for child and family.
·         Affect Modulation-Identification of feeling using words to describe emotions
·         Cognitive Coping Skills-understanding the thoughts behind the behavior
·         Trauma Narrative-having the child share their story-as best they can
·         Invio-Mastery of Trauma Reminders-being able to handle the triggers.
·         Conjoint Sessions with Parents
·         Enhancing Safety

Do your homework-  your time has value so take the time to research
      Find a licensed mental health therapist in your area—be sure they are fully licensed (not in training/associate). Psychologist, Social Worker, LMFT, LMHC
      Research their web page.  What does it say?
      Do they specialize in children? Do they appear to have certification in what your child needs?
      What is their treatment approach or training in?  Does it say?
      Are they convenient enough that you will be able to get there in your busy life and make it work for your family?
      Do they take your insurance? Or can you afford to pay for their cash pay fees?

Contact Therapists who have promise-ASK

      What type of therapeutic intervention do they offer and where were they trained? In what evidence-based treatments have they been trained?
      What is your experience with complex trauma in children (or whatever it is your child’s needs are).
      Who do you do clinical supervision or consultation with?
      What will be expected of me for the treatment to work the best?
      How long should we plan the treatment to take?
      How do you decide when the treatment has worked or has been successful or when it may need to be changed because there is not enough progress?
      What are your fees and how to you take payment?
      How long is your waitlist?

RResources

Adoption Medicine Clinics Search Tool:

Selecting and Working with a Therapist who is Skilled in Adoption  

Choosing Therapy for Adopted Children and Youth 

Finding and Using Post Adoption Services