Play Therapy

Play therapy offers a unique approach to child mental health, allowing children to express themselves and process emotions through play.

Creative Expression

Creative expression in play therapy encourages children to explore their feelings and thoughts in a safe, imaginative way, promoting emotional healing.

Advanced Techniques

Advanced therapeutic techniques in child mental health therapy integrate research-based methods to address complex emotional and behavioral challenges effectively.

Parent Involvement

Parent involvement is essential in play therapy, as it helps reinforce therapeutic progress and creates a supportive environment for the child.

Child Therapy: Supporting Emotional and Behavioral Well-Being

Does Your Child Struggle with Big Emotions?

Do their emotions last longer and feel more intense than expected?
Are they experiencing frequent emotional outbursts?
Have their feelings become explosive or unmanageable?
Has their school reported concerns about their emotions or behaviors affecting learning and relationships?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, child therapy may help.

Therapeutic Approaches for Children

Play Therapy

Play therapy helps children express emotions and process experiences in a safe and supportive environment. It is especially beneficial for children who have experienced trauma, loss, divorce, abuse, medical challenges, or who are neurodivergent. Through play, children use toys as “words” and play itself as “language”;

Play Therapy Techniques:

Puppet Play: Helps children practice communication skills.
Art Therapy: Provides a non-verbal way to express emotions and cope with trauma.
Music Therapy: Allows for the release of difficult feelings.
Movement Therapy: Enhances emotional expression.
Storytelling: Helps children process challenging memories and events.
Sand Play: Offers a symbolic way to work through inner conflicts.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

EMDR is a structured therapy that helps children process trauma safely and build inner resilience. It is effective for children who have experienced trauma, abuse, or loss, as well as neurodivergent children.

How EMDR Works:

1. Identifies challenging memories.

2. Uses guided eye movements, tapping, or sounds while focusing on trauma.

3. Encourages children to observe physical sensations associated with their memories.

4. Helps build emotional strength and courage.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps children change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, enabling them to manage emotional challenges more effectively.

CBT for Trauma and Emotional Regulation:

Identifies negative thoughts and behaviors.
Teaches how thoughts influence emotions and actions.
Provides strategies to challenge and change negative thinking.
Encourages thoughtful responses rather than reactive behaviors.

Attachment Therapy

Attachment therapy focuses on building strong, secure emotional bonds between children and their caregivers. Early attachment significantly influences personality, behavior, and relationships throughout life.

Four Attachment Styles:

Secure: Develops from a warm, safe connection with caregivers.
Anxious: Results from inconsistent caregiving, leading to clinginess and fear of abandonment.
Avoidant: Forms when caregivers are dismissive, causing children to avoid seeking comfort.
Disorganized: Arises from inconsistent caregiving, leading to difficulty trusting others.
When to Seek Professional Help
You may want to consider therapy if your child:
Experiences prolonged emotional distress (more than 5–10 minutes per episode).
Has intense outbursts, including screaming, kicking, or aggression toward others.
Expresses anger in a destructive way.
Displays self-harming behaviors or aggression toward others or animals.
Struggles with ongoing anxiety, excessive worry, or social withdrawal.

Child Therapy Services in Bozeman, Belgrade, and Kalispell

Therapy helps children develop healthy emotional expression and coping strategies. Our

experienced therapists specialize in different age groups and therapy modalities:

Jennifer Gribble (Bozeman & Belgrade): Specializes in Play Therapy and CBT for children ages 5–10.
Christalie Kuglin (Bozeman): Uses EMDR for children ages 11–17 to process trauma.
Suzanne Panique (Kalispell): Works with children ages 4–17 using Play Therapy, storytelling, art, and CBT.
Susan Jedd (Online): Provides parental support to strengthen secure attachment with emotionally dysregulated children.
Benefits of Child Therapy
Builds confidence and social skills.
Teaches calming strategies for difficult situations.
Improves emotional regulation and self-awareness.
Strengthens family and peer relationships.
Enhances academic performance.

Early intervention through therapy can prevent escalating challenges in school, friendships, and mental health.

Our Integrative Approach

We offer additional services to support your child’s well-being:

Clinical Assessments: Diagnostic evaluations to determine emotional and behavioral needs.
qEEG (Quantitative Electroencephalogram): Measures brain activity to identify imbalances affecting behavior.
Neurostimulation & Neurofeedback: Helps regulate brain function for emotional stability.
Nutritional Counseling: Supports brain-gut health for improved emotional regulation.

If your child is struggling, we’re here to help. Contact the nCenter to learn more about our child therapy services.