Attachment, Self-Regulation, and Competency (ARC)
ARC is a treatment approach for children & adolescents 3-22 and their caregivers designed to support children and families who have experienced multiple life stressors and adversity.
What to Expect: The specific treatment structure will depend on where you are seeking treatment. Treatment may be in an office or in the home and will usually include both child/adolescent and caregiver(s) for a portion of the visit. Caregivers are viewed as an integral part of the treatment team, so it is very important that adults plan to be part of the treatment with the child/adolescent.
Goals of Treatment: The ultimate goal of treatment using ARC is to support children and their caregivers on their self-identified path to healthy, happy lives. ARC does this by:
- Acknowledging the ways that stress and adversity impact daily life, relationships, behaviors, feelings, and coping strategies.
- Supporting healthy relationships between children and adults.
- Supporting caregivers in identifying supports and resources.
- Helping all family members find ways to manage feelings, body sensations and behaviors.
- Improving problem solving skills.
- Supporting healthy development of identity.
- Supporting the child in processing /integrating stressful life experiences.
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)
CPP is counseling for children ages 0-6 and their caregivers that strengthens the caregiver-child relationship. CPP helps both child and caregiver to recover from scary or painful events such as loss, separation, abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and community violence. CPP helps both the child and caregiver heal from stressful experiences. CPP honors cultural and family values including language and child rearing practices.
What will you learn?
CPP helps you to learn how your child is developing and expressing feelings and needs.
You will learn how:
- To increase your skills in managing your child’s behaviors
- To help your child begin to recover from experiences that felt scary, sad, or worrisome
- To communicate with your child in new ways
- To understand the feelings you and your child have about what you both experienced and learn how your child is expressing his/her feelings
What should you tell your child about CPP?
Before coming to or hosting counseling in your home, it is a good idea to talk to your child about why you both need support.
Tell your child that both of you will:
- Do activities together that are enjoyable/fun and help share your feelings
- Play, use words, and draw about your worries.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT is a brief treatment for children ages 3 to 18 affected by traumatic life experiences. TF-CBT helps children develop skills for processing the trauma; managing distressing thoughts, feelings, and behavior; enhancing safety; and improving communication with parents; and helps parents increase parenting skills.
What to Expect: Children and parent/caregiver engage in trauma assessments to guide treatment and then attend therapy sessions.
Treatment Components:
P sychoeducation and parenting skills
R elaxation
A ffective expression and modulation
C ognitive coping and processing
T rauma narrative development & process
I n vivo mastery of trauma reminders
C onjoint child-parent sessions
E nhancing future safety and development