Art and drama therapy are approaches that appeal to a child's innate playfulness.

The past couple of years have been challenging for even our most resilient kids. The pandemic has affected them academically, socially, or emotionally. If your family has had these or any other struggles, such as loss, divorce, or behavioral issues, we can help them (and your family) get back on track.
Who we are:

Since 2009, New York Creative Arts Therapists PLLC has remained committed to integrating best-practice psychotherapy treatment with creative interventions that respect the individuality of each family and child. We practice strengths-based treatment which allows you to build on the skills you already have to find solutions to current problems.

How we work:

Creative arts therapy can help children and families cope with stress and a variety of emotional and behavioral issues. Our skilled therapists engage young clients through art, movement, drama, and play — tapping into your child's natural way of communicating and expressing feelings. Children identify and build on existing strengths while learning new skills to deal with current stressors, significant life events, or long-standing social difficulties.

What to say to prepare your child for therapy. 

Reasons to consider therapy for your child:

  • Difficulty adjusting to life events, such as a major relocation, divorce, death of a loved one or pet, or major illness.
  • A change in behavior, mood, sleep, appetite, or academic functioning.
  • Increase in risk-taking or self-destructive behaviors.
  • Low self-esteem or negative view of self. 
  • School stress, test anxiety, bullying, or peer pressure.
  • Problems maintaining friendships or interacting socially with peers.
  • Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event, including abuse, car accident, or urban violence.
Intake and course of therapy:

The first intake appointment is for the parents to meet with a therapist without the child. We will ask for some background information about what issues the child and/or family are facing, the severity of these issues, and how long they have been going on. If you are seeking help with managing your child's behavior, we may suggest starting with our 6-week parenting group.  This affordable short-term intervention will help illuminate and address trouble spots and give you tools you can begin using right away to improve your relationship with your child. If problems are more severe or persistant, we may recommend individual or family therapy. Once the child starts therapy, parental participation is expected, either in collateral sessions, where parents meet separately with the therapist, or in joint sessions, where parent and child work jointly with the therapist. On average, we recommend weekly sessions for your child, and a minimum of one session per month with the parent. The duration of the course of therapy is individual and depends on the issues that are being addressed.

To schedule an appointment email us at messages@nycreativetherapists.com

 
Children who have experienced trauma may temporarily lose the capacity to play. Drama therapy can rebuild a child's sense of himself by helping reconnect to this vital life skill.

Mark Beauregard, MA, LCAT, RDT, Senior Drama Therapist