Child Assessment + Therapy Services
Early Childhood Assessment
Did you know that your child’s brain is more flexible and capable of learning during the first few years of life than any other time across the lifespan? We know, right?!?! That is why early intervention is so important.
Providers at VMHC have specialized training to assess the social, emotional, & behavioral difficulties in young children (Birth-five years). We offer a unique lens to determine clinical diagnosis (if appropriate), characteristics of child & caregiver relationships, & provide tailored treatment recommendations.
We use the DC: 0-5 assessment system, which is considered the “gold standard” in assessing those in infancy through early childhood.
An assessment for a young kiddo will include caregiver interview, observation of child & caregiver, sometimes standardized assessment tools, & play (of course!).
Play Therapy
Play is the language of children. Play Therapy is an evidence-based treatment for addressing emotional and mental health needs. It meets children where they are at by aligning with a communication style they are comfortable with and where they are at developmentally.
We use Play Therapy to help kiddos express themselves when words are tough to find. Furthermore, Play Therapy aims to help children learn and express their feelings, process emotional concerns, and gain tools to regulate emotions, thoughts, & behaviors. It may include board games, arts & crafts, reading books, tossing a ball, playing with various toys, or inviting your child to bring their own favorite toys! Additional parent/caregiver support and training are often incorporated into treatment.
Parent Guidance
You can expect that your child will likely meet individually with a provider for play-therapy (or talk therapy for older kids) sessions. You can also expect to be a part (a big part) of the process. Therapy for kiddos is most effective when their caregivers are involved. That means sometimes the whole family will be together in sessions while other times it is best for just the grown-ups to meet. We call this Parent Guidance/Therapy. This is a time to discuss your child’s progress, continued challenges, process + problem-solve the parenting challenges at home, and have the stress of parenting validated & normalized. We will also teach you specific strategies to support your kiddo & enhance your relationship with your child. It is our goal to bolster the great parenting skills you already have. Parenting is tough. You are not alone, we’ll partner with you.