For individuals with limited verbal communication skills who may benefit from a playful or more creative approach to psychotherapy, AZA United offers the Interactive Healing Therapy program. Led by licensed Clinical Psychologists, this program utilizes a wide variety of treatment approaches and customized therapy activities designed to help each child or individual enhance their coping skills, emotional regulation and social interaction abilities.
Program Highlights
- Designed for individuals with limited verbal communication skills
- Available to all ages, with a focus on play-based strategies for children
- Utilizes alternative approaches to psychotherapy that focus on emotional stability
- Example activities include sand tray therapy, roleplaying, video games, yoga, etc.
- Focus areas include anxiety/depression, trauma, difficulty tolerating stress, etc.
- Sessions typically occur for 1 hour/week at an AZA United clinic
Program Overview
Interactive Healing Therapy is focused on providing individual and family to individuals of any age who may either have limited verbal communication skills or are young (typically under 8 years) and would benefit more from an interactive, play-based approach to therapy. Clients are often individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders or their siblings, although a diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental disorder is not required to seek services. Treatment plans start by identifying any challenges that the individual is experiencing related to diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual developmental disorder (IDD), executive functioning deficits, communication/developmental delays.
Common concerns may include anxiety or depression, trauma exposure/symptoms, social skill delays, emotional dysregulation, communication and/or executive functioning deficits, low self-esteem, poor coping skills, difficulties tolerating stress or discomfort, etc. Therapy is provided or supervised by Clinical Psychologists with expertise in working with individuals with developmental delays.
Some examples of interventions that may be utilized for Interactive Healing Therapy include:
- Approaching challenges in a playful way that follows the child’s interests
- Emotion recognition and regulation through game play (gamification)
- Acting out social stories or social conflicts to develop a resolution
- Perspective-taking through role playing (puppets, dollhouse, etc.).
- Art and sensory activities as emotional expression
- Sand tray therapy to express inner thoughts and emotions
- Using Minecraft to build insight into a child’s inner world and relationships
- Yoga and mindfulness to help slow down and regulate emotions
- Body awareness for acceptance of emotions and other internal experiences
- Parent coaching to support challenges with anxiety
Our approach to psychotherapy and counseling combines a number of evidence-based practices, including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Play Therapy, Trauma-focused interventions, Relationship-Based Therapies, and parent coaching and psychoeducation. We embrace a collaborative, transdisciplinary approach that includes participation from other professionals working with the family (e.g., social workers, case managers, behavioral health providers, speech and occupational therapy providers, BCBAs, teachers, etc.).
Our clinical approaches allow us to offer individual and family therapy to treat anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, trauma and stressor-related disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and relational problems. Before starting services, our team of expert clinicians conducts an assessment to fully understand the individual’s current skill levels. An individualized treatment plan is created that is unique to each person’s needs and family preferences.
AZA’s Model of Care
Interactive Healing Therapy is a collaborative effort between the therapist and client/family. In order to achieve goals and enhance skills, our clients must practice treatment interventions in and outside of the therapy setting, which will help increase treatment effectiveness. We also facilitate a team-based approach to treatment planning and service delivery with all therapists. When clients are receiving multiple services through AZA United, our clinical teams communicate and collaborate so that the client family experiences a consistent and balanced approach to treatment that is individualized to their needs. Whenever possible and appropriate, our teams will also collaborate with other service and therapy providers and schools as needed to ensure a holistic and effective overall approach to care.
