mental health Archives - Engage Treatment Program, Inc

engage treatment mental health

Animal-Assisted Therapy for Children: The Benefits of Working with Animals

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT), also referred to as pet therapy, is a type of therapy that involves animals as a part of the therapeutic process to improve physical, emotional, social, and cognitive functioning. Pet therapy is rooted in the Biophilia Hypothesis,…

NormanJune 6, 2024

engage treatment mental health

The Power of Journaling: Helping Children Express Their Emotions and Thoughts

Journaling is a self-care technique that involves writing down and documenting one’s thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is a simple and effective form of self-reflection that helps young people process emotions, relieve stress, and gain clarity. Journaling is a safe…

NormanMay 9, 2024

engage treatment mental health

Building Positive Relationships: Using Therapy to Strengthen Family Bonds

The Mayo Clinic defines family therapy as “a type of psychological counseling (psychotherapy) that can help family members improve communication and resolve conflicts.” Family therapy is deeply rooted in family systems theory, which is based on the notion that families…

NormanMay 8, 2024

engage treatment mental health

Working with Grief and Loss: Supporting Children through Life’s Challenges

Loss is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) as “the fact or process of losing something or someone.” Loss is a universal experience and an unavoidable part of being human. When a child experiences loss, it is emoted through…

NormanMay 7, 2024

engage treatment mental health

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Kids: Building Positive Habits and Patterns

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) was developed in the 1960s by psychiatrist, Aaron Beck. CBT is a structured, short-term, goal-oriented form of psychotherapy that “targets multiple areas of potential vulnerability (e.g., cognitive, behavioral, affective) with developmentally-guided strategies and traverses multiple intervention…

NormanMay 6, 2024

engage treatment mental health

The Benefits of Group Therapy for Children: Building Connection and Support

Group therapy, as explained by Verywell Mind, “is a form of psychotherapy that involves one or more therapists working with several people at the same time.” Group therapy began when physician Joseph Hersey Pratt who was treating individuals with tuberculosis,…

NormanMay 3, 2024

engage treatment mental health

Mindfulness and Meditation for Kids: Techniques for Relaxation and Focus

Many people describe mindfulness as a form of meditation, however Positive Psychology explains that “mindfulness is a quality; mediation is a practice…mindfulness describes a specific way of living that can be cultivated through practice.” Meditation is the process by which…

NormanMay 2, 2024

engage treatment mental health

Helping Kids with Anxiety: Tips and Techniques from a Child Therapist

Anxiety is a normal, emotional reaction to danger, and has been explained as “the body’s automatic fight-or-flight response that is triggered when you feel threatened, under pressure, or are facing a challenging situation.” It is the body’s natural response to…

NormanMay 1, 2024

engage treatment mental health

The Importance of Self-Care: Teaching Kids to Take Care of Their Mental Health

Self-care is defined as “the ability to care for oneself through awareness, self-control, and self-reliance in order to achieve, maintain, or promote optimal health and well-being.” Self-care practices involve both nurturing one’s physical and mental health, which can be accomplished…

NormanApril 8, 2024

engage treatment mental health

Exploring Identity: Using Therapy to Support Children’s Sense of Self

Identity can be explained as a “person’s sense of self, established by their unique characteristics, affiliations, and social roles.” It is a complex concept that encompasses a range of factors, including gender, ethnicity, culture, family history, and personal experiences. Identity…

NormanApril 8, 2024